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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(7)6)  872-4503 


% 


LS 


CIKM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions 


Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 


D 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


D 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

0    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachet§es  ou  piqu^es 


D 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


y 


Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


n 


Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


D 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  at/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


n 


n 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 


□    Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires: 


J 


10X 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  rdduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


J 


12X 


16X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grfice  d  la 
gdn6rosit6  de: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol      »   (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning   "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  ia 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  ^^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film^s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trco  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

^f^mmm^^^^mmmmmmmmmn 


—  ,11  r 


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mmw^m:^'  ^isiEi?Tf^3srjyL.)M  jd- 


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J'     \  ilttv     >>|     :  IS,      LN.  ' 


fr,  -O'  ^   t  :•   ■  .,'  flii  ;  Hk  y  'Uunvi  :l. 
^<v  you.  li    -mir  .rC< Tit, 

•    h.'ii.      ■  '/III.    It), 


5  <*  s  -  r:,    v' ,-  I  .  »< :«  ^  COM  f'.\  V y 


■  ;. 


■Mi 


HRilF" 


Benedict  Arnold; 


HIS 


PATRIOTISM  AND  HIS  TREASON. 


BT 


ISAAC    N.  APtXOLD, 

Al'THOlt  OP 
"  LIFE  OF  AIIRAIIAM  LIXCULN." 


"  1  liavc  done  the  state  some  servi(  o,  and  tin  y  know  it. 
No  more  r,f  thnt.— I  pruy  you,  in  your  loticrs, 
Wlu'ii  you  shall  tliese  iiiilucl<y  deeds  roluti', 
f^!)i'nl<  of  me  as  I  am;  noihiiitr  extenuate, 
Nor  set  down  luiKiu  in  niaiicu." 

("He  will  give  the  devil  his  due." 


CHICAGO: 
JANSEN.  McCLURG  &  COMPANY. 

1880. 


I  PIIMWI      I     I    I  I  II 


(•(irvuK)iiT  : 
Jansicn,  McCmiki  iV  Co. 

A.  D.  1879. 


STEfltOTVPFO     AND     PRINTED 
BY 
THE    CHtCAQO    LEGAL    NEWS    COMPANY. 


IxNTllODUCTIOX. 


SiAXDlxr.,  not  vory  lon;^  no-o,  on  tlio  battU  -licld  of  Saiatofrji, 
nc-ar  where  Bcmnlict  Arnold  was  jrriovously  woundo*!,  us  lie 
led  as  gallant  a  charge  as  was  ever  made,  I  rualizud  that  if  he 
had  died  on  that  bloody  field  how  brilliant  would  have  been 
his  record  as  a  soldier  and  patriot.  His  name,  associated  with 
those  of  Montgomery  and  Warren,  would  have  been  canonized 
in  American  history,  and  his  faults  and  foibles  would  have  been 
lost  in  the  blu/e  of  glory  which  would  have  encircled  it. 

Standing  there,  I  was  impressed  with  the  injustice  v.'hich 
has  been  done  him;  not  in  condemtiing  his  treason,  but  in 
ignoring  liis  virtues,  and  in  refusing  to  recognize  his  great 
services;  and  I  resolved  to  tell  the  story  of  his  life  truthfully 
and  fairly.  Yet  conscious  of  the  deep  and  merited  and  univer- 
sal prejudice  existing  against  him,  I  fear  the  American  people 
will  listen  with  some  impatience  to  such  a  story  of  his  life, 
lie  was  not  so  black  as  he  has  been  painted.  I  have  no 
desire  to  chany-e  the  indignation  and  resentment  felt  towards 
him  for  his  treason.  I  can  neither  excuse  nor  extenuate  his 
guilt.  But  I  wish  to  make  known  his  patriotic  services,  his 
sufferings,  heroism,  and  the  wrongs  which  drove  him  to  desper- 
ation, and  converted  one  of  the  most  heroic  men  of  a  heroic 
age  to  the  perpetration  of  an  unpardonable  crime.  I  wish  to 
introduce  one  drop  of  pity  into  the  bitter  cup  of  indignant  de- 

(3) 


a  iy^t>' 


INTnODUCTIOX. 


I 


^ 


tiiinciution  which  hns  Ijcoii  bo  poiistantly  poiirod  upon  his  head. 

The  tiiiio  iiiHy  coiiio — I  think  thi-rr  arc  indiratioiis  of  its 
approach — whiMi  th(!re  will  mingle  with  his  coiKh-ninatiou  that 
"iiilinite  pity,"  wliirh  (Jcor;^!!  Williani  '  urtis,  standing  »)n 
lii-mis'  Heights,  ho  ehH|iii"  tiy  expressccl  his  oration  on  tlie 
Surrender  of  liurgoyne — "  iidinitc  pity,""  tliat  a  nature  ao  heroic, 
and  witli  a  record  so  brilliant,  should  have  been  driven,  by  a 
sense  of  bitter  wrong  and  the  violence  of  his  passions,  to  a  crime 
so  inexcusable. 

On  the  (exposure  of  his  treason,  it  becNiino  the  passionate 
desire  of  a  whole  nation  to  blacken  his  cliiiriicter.  Instantly  h(! 
became  an  outcast  and  an  outlaw.  Every  pen  denounced, 
and  every  tongue  curse<l  him.  If  this  had  been  confined  to  his 
treason,  none  woidd  have  questioned  its  justice,  but  in  their  just 
hatred,  the  people  wished  to  make  him  wholly  odious.  Tie  who 
had  l)een  the  trusted  fiiend  of  Washington  and  Warren  and 
Schuyler,  was  now  declared  guilty  of  every  crime,  and  denied 
a  single  virtue.  Even  his  undeniable  bravery,  exhibited  on  so 
many  batth>-lields,  was  declared  to  be  only  "Dutch  courage." 
He  who  in  Philadelphia  and  elsewhere  had  been  the  courteous 
and  honored  host,  at  whose  table  the  hi<rhest  ami  most  intelli- 
gent  oflicers  of  the  army  and  of  civil  life  were  ghul  to  meet, 
was  now  declared  a  "  low,  v\dgar,  illiterate  horse-jockey  and 
skipper.''  These  were  the  natural  results  of  his  odious  crime. 
But  Arnold  was  not  the  first  cliaracter  in  history  who  has  shown 
that  great  crimes  are  not  incompatible  with  great  virtues. 

The  great  duke  of  Marlborough  was,  according  to  Macaulay, 
doubly  a  traitor:  false  and  treacherous  to  .Tames  and  the  Prince 
of  Orange;  in  turn — both  a  spy  and  a  traitor.'     And  yet,  go  to 

1.  "Not  till  tlic  archives  of  (lie  III  lU'^c  of  Stcunrt  wore  cxpospil,  was  it  known 
"  lo  the  world  tlmt  Tiilmash  liad  perislied  t>y  tlic  iiise.st  of  tho  hundred  villuiiiies 
"of  Murlboruiigh."— Wuca«/»ii/"«  England,  V.  T,p.  yj3. 


IXTIIODI'CTION". 


5 


the  palace  of  IJIiMiheitii,  and  l)cliold  how  England  ftjigavo  his 
crimes  and  rowarded  his  virtiu's. 

It  is  dillicult  to  concoive  of  (hirkor  and  more  cxccrahio 
criujes  than  those  of  David,  the;  {^rcat  kin^  of  Israel — murder 
and  perfidy  from  the  vilest  motives!  And  yet  tlio  heart  that 
conceived  and  executed  the  treacherous  murder  of  Uriah,  iridict- 
'  ed  the  I'salms,  and  was  so  teiidn-  and  atfectioiuite  that  David 
would  have  jrladly  died  for  the  u'ltuitural  Ahsiiloin! 

The  kin;j  repent(!d  and  God  and  man  forj^ave  him.  If  wo 
cannot  forgive  Arnold,  we  can  and  <nij;ht  to  Ije  ji.st  to  him. 

To  him  "sharper  tlian  a  s  rpent's  tooth"  was  the  in<rrati- 
tudo  of  his  country,  and  crazed  and  maddened  hy  his  wronj;s, 
■  real  and  imaginary,  when  the  tempter  came,  he  fell.  His  pun- 
ishnu'nt  was,  and  will  be,  forever  terrible;  poor  Andre's  was 
comparatively  light — "a  momentary  pang,"  as  he  express 'd  it, 
when  he  mounted  tlie  scalfold.  General  Arnold's  aft(?r  life 
must  have  been  a  long  agony  of  remorse,  cliagrin  and  disap- 
pointment. TIh^  ever  coiiS(Mousnoss  of  a  great  crime  and  a 
still  greater  blunder,  nuist  have  given  him  a  lifelong  h(;artaclie; 
ami  to  his  name,  which  down  to  that  fatal  event  had  been 
among  the  most  brilliant  of  American  soldiers,  he  brought 
the  punishment  of  everlasting  iid'amy. 

But  before  his  treason  he  had  been  a  self-sacrificing,  zealous 
patriot,  shedding  his  blood  like  water  for  his  country.  I  wish 
to  portray  iiim  as  such  patriot— to  tell  the  sUwy  of  his  lif(»  up  to 
the  time  of  his  fall,  as  it  would  have  been  told  had  he  died  on 
the  bloody  field  of  Saratoga. 

This  part  of  his  life  1  shall  demonstrate,  has  not  been  fairly, 

"He  (MarlborouglO  liad  uliilo  i  (iiiiiiiMii.linK  William's  troops,  wliile  sitting  ot 
Williiim's  council,  uliilo  wiiitiiiu  In  WiKium's  l)oil<'liamhcr.  I'oniiocl  tlie  most  nrtf  1 
iind  liiiiiKerous  plot  tor  the  subversion  l1'  Williiim's  lhronc."—3Iacau!ai/'6£iiglaiul, 
y.  7,  p.  324. 


6 


INTRODUCTIOX. 


truthfully  written.  I  wish  the  Aniprican  people,  tho  world,  to 
know  how  his  services,  his  heroism,  his  energy,  his  ability,  were 
rcifjirded  by  Washin<;ton,  Scliuyler,  Moiitgotiiory,  Gates,  Green, 
and  Lamb  and  Varick  and  liivingston,  his  fellow  soldiers;  and 
liy  Warren,  Lee  and  Chase,  and  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  anil 
Jay,  Clinton  and  others,  at  the  t'unc^  before  the  clouds  which  his 
defection  caused  had  thrown  their  dark  shadows  hacJacard  as 
well  as  forward,  and  darkened  his  whole  life.  I  shall  try  to 
exhibit  Benedict  Arnold  as  Washington  saw  him,  as  i^chuyler 
knew  him,  as  Warren  understood  him,  and  as  Varick  and  Liv- 
ingston appreciated  him.  When  the  story  of  his  life  as  an 
American  patriot  and  soldier  has  been  told,  then  the  dark 
shadows  of  his  treason  and  subsequent  suffering  will  follow. 

Ills  capacities  for  good  and  for  evil  were  very  great;  over  the 
generous  and  liberal  friend,  he  was  a  proud,  bitter  a  id  unyield- 
ing enemy.  During  one  period  of  his  life  he  was  the  brilliant, 
dashing  soldier,  posaessed  of  a  hopeful  and  sanguine  temper- 
ament, Avhich  no  difficulty  nor  danger  could  overcome,  and  his 
wonderful  successes  prove,  tiiat  witli  all  his  reckless  daring,  he 
united  great  skill,  forethought,  and  readiness  of  invention. 
His  life  is  full  of  dramatic  interest,  and  while  true  to  his  flag, 
the  career  of  no  soldier  of  the  Revolution  is  more  full  of  thrill- 
ing incidents,  heroic  deeds,  and  examples  of  fortitude  and 
energy.  When  driven  to  desperation,  wounded  l)y  injustice, 
disappointed  and  chagr'ned,  he  became  bitter  and  reve'-geful, 
and  seemed  willing  to  sacrifice  the  caiise  for  which  he  had  so 
(iften  bled,  so  that  his  enemies  should  be  rushed  in  the  ruins, 
'riie  story  of  this  strange  life,  Arnold  as  2^cit'>'iot  and  traitor,  I 
shall  endeavor  truthfully  to  tell,  and  in  such  a  spirit  as  to  merit, 
and  I  trust,  to  obtain,  the  sympathy  of  all  lovers  of  fair  play. 

The  identity  in  the  name  of  the  author  .  nd  the  subject,  and 


f 


INTHODUCTIOX. 


possibly  the  trc-atinont,  may  sujrj^est  a  relationship  which  docs 
not  exist.  Had  General  Arnold  died  on  Lake  Chainplain,  when 
desperately  figlitin<r  with  his  single  vessel  the  whole  British 
fleet,  that  the  remainder  of  his  own  might  escape;  or  had  the 
bullet  that  shattered  his  leg  while  leading  his  troops  in  tho 
assault  on  Quebec  pierced  his  heart,  there  would  have  been 
found  among  those  who  now  l)ear  the  name,  many  v/Ikj 
would  have  proudly  claimed  a  blood  nilationship.  As  it  is,  I 
have  met  very  few  indeed  who  admit  such  kinship.  I  did,  in- 
deed, once  hear  a  beautiful  and  spirited  young  lad}-,  of  very 
great  taste,  oilture  and  talent,  audaciously  and  ironically  say 
she  had  the  best  blood  of  any  family  in  the  republic,  for  she 
was  related  to  Benedict  Arnold  by  one  of  her  parents,  and 
Aaron  Burr  by  the  other! 

Two  hundred  and  iilty  or  three  hundred  years  ago  there  was 
a  common  ancestor  of  General  Arnold  and  the  author,  and  un- 
der these  circumstances  I  shall  be  pardoned  the  egotism  of  say- 
ing that  i..y  grandfather,  Thonnis  Arnold,  was  an  humble  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  anil  wiVA faithful ^  and  that 
such  was  his  admiration  of  the  commander-in-chief,  that  he 
uave  to  mv  father  the  name  of  Georo-e  Washington. 

I  have  endeavored  to  make  an  exhaustive  investiffation  of 
I  acts  in  relation  to  General  Arnold.  1  have  consulted  his 
manuscript  letters  in  the  Force  collection  in  the  library  of  Con- 
gress; manuscript  letters  of  Arnold  and  his  wife  and  sister,  in 
the  Department  of  State  at  Washington;  the  very  large  and 
valual>le  Schuyler  numuscripts  in  the  possession  of  the  fam- 
ily of  General  Schuyler;  ami  the  Gates  an<l  Lamb  papers,  in 
the  possession  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 

Also  the  Shippen  papers  and  Shippen  manuscripts,  which 
contain  letters   from  General  Arnold  and  his  wife,  from  the 


8 


INTRODUCTIOX. 


7 


time  of  Arnold's  cuurtbhip  and  marriage  to  the  day  of  liis 
death,  in  1801.  ' 

Also  the  correspondence  of  his  children  in  fJngland,  with 
Chief-Justice  Shii)pen;  letters  from  his  wife  and  children  to 
and  fnjm  his  sister,  Hannah  Arnold,  and  his  sons  by  his  first 
wife — Richard  and  Henry — in  Canada.  I  am  esj^ecially  in- 
debted to  Edward  Sliippen,  of  l'hiladelj)liia,  and  to  the  fam- 
ily of  a  granddaughter  of  Arnold,  in  Canada,  for  very  valuable 
and  new  material;  also  to  a  grandson  of  General  Arnold — the 
Kev.  Edward  trladwin  Arnold,  of  Great  Massingliam  Rectory, 
Norfolk,  England,  lor  many  valuable  letters  and  manuscript 
documents  of  great  historic  interest,  and  many  incidents  rela- 
ting to  the  life  of  his  grandfather  and  family  in  England. 

From  these  papers  and  persons,  from  the  writings  of  Wash- 
ington, and  Force's  American  Archives,  and  other  sources,  I 
have  drawn  the  material  for  the  following  work.  I  think  I  have 
been  able  to  contribute  something  new  anil  valuable,  and  con- 
siderable that  is  not  generally  known  to  this  part  of  American 
history. 

For  General  Arnold,  the  patriot  and  soldier,  T  ask  a  fair 
hearing  and  justice;  for  Benedict  Arnold,  the  traitor,  I  have  no 
plea,  but  "guilty." 

SkI'I  KMIIKR,    1819. 


1 


CONTEXTS. 


CIIAPTKIJ    I. 

Ills    KAKLV    1,1 1'K. 

TliP  Ancpstnrs  of  BciiOflict  Arnold — His  own  TiiiiiKMliato  Family,  atitl 
Karly  lil'c—llis  Feats  of  Daring — lvhii_ati<>n — MarriaLri.' — His  First 
Duel, i.v;;2 


CIIAPTKlf     IT. 

TICOXDEUOGA    AND    rltoWX    I'olXT. 

The  Boston  Massacre — Arnold's  Fiery  Patriotism — His  Letter — Battle  of 
Lexington — Capt.  Arnold  Volunteers  and  Leacit,  'us  Company  to  Cam- 
bridge—  Expedition  to  Ticonderoga — Captuns  St.  .ii.'u's — Warren  liis 
Friend — Injustice  to  Arnold — Death  of  his  Wife — 'roiuiiing  Letter  of 
his  Sister,  Hannah   Arnold, ',i')-4x 


CIIArTKR    Tir. 

K.\iM.iirii(»\   I'o  tji  i:iu:c. 

Expedition  to  Quebec,  and  ^larch  Through  the  Wilderness — Arnold  pro- 
poses the  Expedition  to  Washington — Washington  Approves,  and 
Selects  for  it  "Picked  ^len  "  of  liis  Army,  and  (iives  the  Connnand 
to  .\rnold — Thi'ir  Ditlicidtics,  Sntfcinys  and  l>angers — Enos  gi'ts 
frightened  and  Abandons  his  Comradi's— Ariinlil,  with  Morgan. 
Pushes  on — Provi-;i'.ns  Exhansted— Arnold  with  Six  Men  Makes  a 
Forced  March  to  the  Camidian  Settlements,  Obtains  Food,  and  Saves 
the  Detachment, 4!)-7J 


10 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

ASSAULT    UPOX    QUEIJKC. 

Arnold  Holds  an  Indian  Council — His  Speech  to  the  Indians — Crosses  the 
St.  Lawrence,  Climbs  to  the  Plains  of  Al)rahani,  and  Meniices  Que- 
bec— Iteceivep  thanks  of  Wiishinj^ton  and  Siluiyler — Mont^ionicry  and 
Arnold  Assault  Quebec — Montgomery  Killed — Arnold  !>hot  while 
Leadinj,'  the  "  Foriorn  Hope  " — .Made  a  nriyadier-GcntTal — HIdckadfs 
Quebec, 7;J-^H 


1 


chaptp:r  v. 

hktreat  fuom  caxada. 

The  Affair  at  the  Cedars — Visit  of  Franklin,  Chase  and  Carroll  to  Arnold's 
Qiuirters— The  Seizure  of  Goods  in  Montreal — Trial  of  Colonel  Hazen 
by  Court-Martial  —  Controversy  IJetween  Arnold  and  the  Court  — 
Charges  against  Arnold  by  Lieut.  Col.  John  Brown — Action  thereon 
))y  Wooster,  Schuyler  and  Oates^Chargcs  Iteclared  by  Congress  to 
be  Cruel  and  Groundless — ArnoUl's  Retreat  livni  Canada,     .    t''J-104 


"4 


[       ^: 


i } 


CHAPTER     VI. 

NAVAL    HATTI.K    OK    VALCOUJi    ISI.AXO. 

The  British,  Greatly  Superior  in  Numbers  and  in  Guns,  .\ttack  the  Anici- 
ican  fleet  under  Arnold,  on  Lake  Chanii)lain — 'J'he  Fight  Continues 
from  Noon  until  Night,  wIkmi  the  British  Retire — Tiie  Americans  Es- 
cape Through  the  British  liine — Are  Overtaken,  and  Arnol  I,  in  the 
Congress,  Fights  and  Retards  the  Enemy  until  his  other  Vessels  Es- 
cape— He  Runs  the  Congress  Aslu)re,  ihuiis  her,  and  witii  his  ^len, 
FkOaches  Ticonderoga, 1U-j-1"JU 


CHAPTER  VII. 

AUNOLP    SUrKKSKUEI) — IIIS    riGHT    AT    KIPGEFIEI.n,  KTC. 

Arnold  in  Wasiiington's  Camp — Sent  to  Rhode  Island — Advances  €1,000 
to  aid  Lamb  in  Raising  his  Regiment — Otfers  Himself  to  the  Beanti- 
iul  Miss  Deblois — Five  Junior  Brigadiers  Promoted  over  Him — 
Withholds  his  Ke^ignation,  at  Washington's  request — Desperate 
Battle,  and  Escape  at  Ridgefield— Congress  Vote  him  a  Horse,  and 
Commission  1  im  a  ^lajor-General — Declare  tlit>  ("barges  of  Brown  to 
be  Cruel  .'\spersions  upon  his  Character — Washington  be^s  Congre.-s 
to  send  him  North  to  aid  in  Repelling  Burgoyne,       .       ,       I'Jl-LW 


1 


CONTENTS. 


11 


CIIArTEll    VIII. 

rAMPAIGN  ON  THE    MOUAWK,  AND    UKLIEF  OF  FORT  STANWIX. 

H.  Loger  Investfs  Fort  Stanwix— Ilcrkinier  poinjj  to  its  relief,  falls  into 
an  Anibiisrado,  ami  at  the  Biittio  of  Oriskiiny  is  Mortally  Wounded — 
Arnold  Volunteers  to  go  to  the  relief  of  Gansevoort — Reaches  German 
Flats,  and  altliough  a  Council  of  War  resolve  that  they  must  wait  for 
Heinforceni"nfs,  he  deterniini's  to  "  l*U;<h  forward  and  ha/.iird  a  Bat- 
tle," rather  than  Bee  the  Garrison  fall — He  resorts  to  a  Kuse — lie 
Frightens  the  Indians,  who  abandon  the  Siege,  and  Fort  Stanwix  is 
relieved UiJ-lOJ 


CHAPTER    IX. 

FIltST    UATTLE    NKAK   SAUATOGA. 

Biittle  nf  10th  of  September— Arnold  leads  the  Troops  to  Tiotory — Error 
of  Baiuroft — Testimony  of  ("ols.  Variek  and  Liviiif^'ston,  Generals 
Schuyler,    Burgoyne,   and   others — Verdict  of  Irvir.g,  Lossing,    and 


others, 


1G:!-1'J0 


\ 


CHAPTER    X. 

SECOND    BATTLE    OF    SAKATOGA. 

Quarrel  between  Gates  and  Arnold — Action  of  October  7th — Ueroism  of 
Arnold — Gates  tries  in  vain  to  recaU  him  from  the  Field — Morgii.i,  by 
direction  of  Arnold,  orders  his  Biflcmen  to  Fire  at  Fraser — Fraser 
Shot^ — Senator  Foster's  Account  of  Arnold's  Charge,  as  witnessed  by 
his  Father — Arnold  Shot — Saves  the  Lifeof  tlu;  Soldier  who  Shot  him 
—Congress  votes  him  Thanks  and  tin;  liank  hitherto  IJefused — Wash- 
ington Sends  him  his  New,  Ante-dated  Commission,  and  Declares  he 
is  Restored  "  to  a  Violated  Right,"  ....         I'Jl-'Jll 


CHAPTER    XI. 

avasiiington's  friendship — Arnold's  gkxki;ositt. 

Arnold's  Womul — He  is  carried  to  Albany,  thence  to  Connecticut — Recep- 
tion at  New  Haven — Receives  Pistols,  Ejnuilettes  and  Sword-Knots 
from  Washington — He  supplies  Money  for  the  Education  and  Mainten- 
ance of  the  Oqihans  of  General  Wairon — Goes  to  Valley  Forge — 
Washington  Assigns  him  to  Command  of  Philadelphia,     .     212-'J21 


12 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XTT. 

ARXOru's  COUKTSUIP  AND  MAUUIAGE. 
riiiladelphia  during,'  tlio  Revolution — Arnold  Assnmos  Command,  and 
Succeeds  Sir  William  llowo  in  Oceupyin<,'  the  Penn  House — Tlie 
Shippen  Family — iMa.jor  John  Andn^ — The  "  Mischicnza  " — rt'f,''try 
Shippen,  the  liciie  ot'l'liiladrlphia — Arnold  lier  Suitor — His  Courtship 
— Settles  upon  her  Mt.  I'leasant — Marriage  and  Domestic  Life — Letter 
of  Hannah  Aiu'ld  to  Mrs.  Arnold  at  West  Point,       •       .       222-'-':;G 


CHAPTER    XTII. 


ARNOLD  S     CON'nj()Vi:i;sV 


SYLVAN  I  A. 


AUTIIOniTlKS    OK     PKX.V- 


Arnold's  Conduct  in  Command  of  Piiiladflphia— His  Controversy  with 
I'resident  Keed  and  the  Authorities  of  Pennsylvania — The  Ac- 
tion of  Con^'ress — Reports  of  Committees  Pxoneratinjj  Him — A 
Court-Martial  Ordered  for  his  Trial,  ^        .        .        .         237-24'.» 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

Arnold's  trial — Washington's  itKrRniAXD. 

i^  mold's  Trial  Continued — His  Defense — Judguunt  of  the  Court — Wash- 
ington's Reprimand  a.nd  lailogy 250-2(54 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Arnold's  treason. 

The  Motives  which  Led  to  Arnold's  Trea'-on — His  WroMp-s — Inducements 
Held  Out  to  Him  by  British  Emissaries — They  try  to  Convince  Him 
the  Contest  Hopeless,  and  that  Kngland  offers  All  for  Wiiich  he  Drew 
his  Sword — Supposed  Meetinjj:  between  Him  and  Beverly  Robinson — 
Letter  to  Arnold  Attributed  to  Robinson  by  Marbois — Arnold  yields 
to  the  Temptations  Ottered,  and  Seeks  the  Command  of  West  Point  — 
Meets  Wash  in, i^ton  at  King's  Ferry,  who  Otfi-rs  Him  the  Couunaiul  of 
the  Left  Wing  of  his  Army — Tradition  that  Arnold  said  his  Defection 
was  to  Prevent  more  Blooelshe  I — fleeting  of  Arnold  and  Andre — Sup- 
posed Conversation  betwi>iMi  Them — Andre's  Capture — His   Letter  to 


Washington, 


26o-29;{ 


CONTENTS. 


13 


CITAPTKU    XVr. 

AnXOI.lVs    KSCAl'K — ANDKlfs    KX  KCUTION'. 

Arnnlil  Tliars  of  Aiulro's  ("iipfmv— F]ii>s  to  tin!  Viiltiin> — W;isliin^t(in 
Arrives  at  W.'st.  Point— Mr^i.  Aniokl's  Di.stros-Ariiold's  Lvtt.'T  to 
\\''asliiii!,'toii,  I»t'(l.irinjr  Her  Tnnoconco.  and  I{(',trj.'in<,'  Wiisliiiigtoti  to 
Proti'it  Ilcr — 1>(  elari's  Mis  Military  Faniily  Iniiocfnt — Hannah  Ai- 
nolil's  liottor  UL'trwint:  tlu'  I'lty  of  ull  Ilcr  Frionds,  anil  rrayinKThoni 
not  to  For«ikc  I  lor— Andre's  Trial  as  a  Spy— Efforts  to  Save  His  Lifo 
— Arnold's  alli'jrod  offer  to  Siurcnder  liinisoU"  in  Kxc'liunf,'o— Andre's 
Kxt'tiilion, 2'J-1-315 

C  IT  AFTER    XVII. 

MKS.    AKN01.I>''s   INXOiKNCK — WAS    ANUUE    A    Sl'Y? 

Wa-!  Mrs.  Arnold  Guilty  of  Complicity  with  hor  Hnsbii^l's  Treason? — 
Was  Andre  a  Spy,  and  Kxecuted  in  Acordance  with  the  Laws  of 
War? y  16-328 


CHATTER    XA'III. 

ARNOLD    TAINI.V    ATTEMPTS    TO    JISTIKV    HIS    TREASON. 

Arnold  in  New  York  (  ify  — His  Address  to  the  American  I'eopL' — Tlis 
rpiclamation  to  the  OHicers  and  Soldiers  of  the  American  Army — At- 
tempt to  Kidnap  Ilim— His  Wife  Joins  Him  iu  New  York,     .    029-341 

CHAPTER    XTX. 

AIIXOI.D  T.KADS  TSRITISII  SOLDI  KKS  AOAIXST  HIS  X'ATl"".  F  rOlXTRY. 

Arnold  Leads  an  Expedition  Apainst  ^'irarinia  and  Connecticut — Massa- 
cre at  Tort  (iriswold — Arnold's  Narrow  Escape  from  Death  by  tlie 
Hands  of  a  Woman  at  New  London,        ....        312-354 


CHAPTER    XX. 

ARNOLD    AT   THK    COUKT    OK    (JKOKOE    THE    III. 

Arnold's  Iteiiartare  with  Lord  Cornwallis  for  En£,'land — His  deception 
by  the  Kin<r  and  Cabinet — His  Pajier  on  a  Reunion  Between  the  Col- 
onies and  the  Crown— '.ieneral  and  Mrs.  Arnold  at  Andre's  Monn- 
n)ent  iu  Westminster  Abbey,  .....         355-366 


14 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER    XXI. 


GKNERAL   AUXOLD    KJIGAOKS    IX    BUSIXKSS. 

Arnold   Settles   in   Portman   Square,    London— Ho    Lives   Beyond    liis 

Means — Engayes  in  Trade— Removes  to  St.  John's,  New  Brunswick 

— His  Family  Correspondence— Mrs.   Arnold  Visits  her  Family  at 

Fhilaeiphia, I)G7-3T4 


CHAPTER    XXTT. 

Arnold's  duel  with  xm:  eaul  op  lauderdat.e. 

Arnold  and  Talleyrand — Arnold's  Din'l  with  the  Farl  of  Landcrd.de — 
Stiitonient  of  Lord  Hawke — Mrs.  Arnold's  Li'tters  to  her  Father  and 
to  Richard  Arnold,  Giving  an  Account  of  the  Duel,  .        37o-3S4 


CHAPTER    XXTII. 

Arnold's  services  ix  the  west  ixdies — ms  peatii. 

General  Arnold  in  1794  Fits  out  a  Ship  for  the  West  Indies — Ship  Lost — 
At  Gaudalonpe — His  Danger — Escapes  to  the  Ent,'Iish  Fleet — His  Ser- 
vices to  the  (Jovernment  in  the  West  Indies — Receives  the  Thanks  of 
the  Planters — The  King  Grants  to  Him  l.'i.riOO  Acres  of  Canada  Lands 
for  his  "Gallantry,"  &c.— He  Bej/h  the  Duke  of  York  for  Military 
Service  Against  the  French — His  Death.  .        .        .  385-398 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE    FAMILY    OF   GUNEUAL    ARNOLD. 

Mrs.  Ai-nold's  Executive  Ability — She  Settles  General  Arnold's  Estate 
and  Pays  his  Debts — Educates  her  Children,  and  Procures  for  her 
Sons  Commissions  in  the  Army — Her  Death — The  Arnold  Family  in 
Canada — '"  Poor  Ben's  "  Death  from  a  Wound  Received  in  Battle — 
The  Family  in  England — All  the  Sons  in  the  Public  Service — Jamef 
Appointed  Military  Aid  to  the  King — Attains  the  Rank  of  Lieut. 
General— A  Grandson  Killed  at  Sebastopol,     .        .        .        399-417 


APPENDIX, 
INDEX, 


419 
421) 


LIFE  OF  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 


CIIArTER   I. 


Ills  EARLY  LIFE. 

"  I'or  I  WHS  wayward,  bold  and  wild, 

A  self  willed  Imp." 

— Maumiok. 

"A  Rrcat,  a  Kil'tod,  hut  a  turbid  soul 

"Struggled  and  chafed  within  that  stripling's  l)reast. 
*'  1'as.slon  which  nunc  might  conquer  or  control." 


Tiir  Ancestors  of  Bknkdict  AnsOLD— His  own  Immkdiatk  I-'amii-y.  and  Kaiu.y 
l.iFi;— lIis  Feats  of  Daring— Education— Makriaoe— His  Fiiot  Dlki,. 

TtMK,  by  bvinfijing  to  li<^ht  new  manuscripts,  is  ponstantly 
increasing  the  accuracy  and  completeness  of  our  knowledgt' 
of  the  llevolution.  As  events  recede  into  the  ]>ast,  this 
]ieriod  of  American  liistory  is  becoming  more  and  more 
attractive  and  picturesque. 

The  name  of  Benedict  Arnokl  is  doomed  to  live  in  that 
history  forever  as  the  only  cons])icuous  instance  of  treason: 
"Sadly  conspicuous,"  as  AVashington  Irving  says,  "  to  the 
end  of  time."  Ilis  punishment  has  been  terrible  but  just. 
In  the  sense  in  which  Satan  has  been  called  the  hero  of 
I'aradise  Lost,  he  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  revolutionary 
war.  One  great  crime  obliterated  the  memory  of  years  of 
hard  and  patriotic  service.  A  century  has  gone  since  his 
abortive  conspiracy,  and  there  is,  I  think,  a  disposition  ti> 
be  less  relentless— I  niav  sav  more  just  to  his  meniorv. 

(15) 


f^ 


10 


j.iFi:  OF  Bi:xi:i)icT  ailnuld. 


'I'liciv  is  u  williii^nt'r-s  to  look  lit'hind  tlie  black  sliailow  of 
liis  trc'Hsoii;  to  rt'coi^iii/c  holiind  tlu;  traitor  of  West  Point 
the  hero  of  Sai'atoi^a.  In  projiortion  as  lii.stoiT  is  severe,  it 
.-houkl  1)(!  scrupulously  just.  With  tli(!  cmiviction  that 
(Jeiieral  Arnold  has  not  had  fair  treatment;  that  his  life  as 
ii  patriot  and  ^■(»ldier  sh(^uld  he  truthfully  told,  I  a>k  a 
hearin<,^ 

^\'illianl  Arnold,  horn  in  Leaniin^t(»n,  Knirland,  in 
ir»s7,  settled  in  Providence  in  l<i;>r»,  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
Arnolds  of  Rhode  Island  and  ('onne(;ticut.  Jle  was  a  con- 
tenii)orary  of  Jvo<i^er  Williams,  aiW  associated  with  him  as 
one  of  the  fifty-four  ])ro])rietors  in  the  tirst  settlement  of  the 
lirst  named  little  commonwealth,  llis  ancestors  in  Kiiir- 
land,  and  >till  earlier  in  AVales,  were  liiii'ldy  respectable, 
and  their  lineaire  has  been  traced  back  for  several  centu- 
ries.  There  is  a  i,'eneal(»<ry  of  the  family  of  aj^jtaivnt  ac- 
curacy, cjoinij  bacdv  to  the  year  1100,  and  naniinix  Mon- 
mouthshire, Wales,  as  the  place  where  the  family  ori<;-inated. 
William,'  the  founder  of  the  family  in  lihode  Island,  had 
three  sons,  I'enedict,  Thomas  and  Stephen.  I>enedict,  the 
eldest,  HMuoved  to  Newport  about  the  year  10r)3.'' 

1.  Ho  WHS  tlic  son  of  Tlioims  Arnold,  of  Mclcoino  Ilerscy,  of  ('liosnUtonrno, 
<  ounty  of  Oorsct,  KnjjliiiKl.  who  was  son  of  Hichurd  Arnold,  Lord  of  tlio  manor  of 
lliiyliero,  I'uri.^ili  of  Mlddlctun,  Co.  of  Oorsel. 

-I'e  Arnold  OeiiealoKy  in  N.  Y.  Ills.  Soc'iuty. 

•Z.  I  liiive  received  from  a  prand  dauKliter  of  (Jeneral  Arnold,  rosiding  in  Tana- 
da,  a  cnrious,  antique  |  ajier,  ai)])iirontly  of  anteri-vcjlntionary  ori^dn,  contiiininK  ii 
i;('neiiloi;y  of  sonuMif  the  Arnold  family,  fron\  IMl  tn  177().  Some  jiurts  of  it  seem 
!o  liave  lieen  preimred  l)y  (iovernor  lU'iii'diet  Arnold,  the  suucessor  of  K-igur  Wil- 
liams, a.s  rrcsidcnt  and  (io\  ernnr  of  the  Colony,     lie  says  : 

"We  eanie  from  rrovidence  wit'.i  onr  family  todwelliu  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island, 
the  I'.ith  of  Novemhcr,  Thursday  in  afternoun,  anil  arrived  ye  same  nii;litianno  Do- 
mini Iti.')!.  Memorancl\ini :  my  father  and  his  family  sett  sayle  from  D:irlmonth,  in 
old  En(,dand,  the  first  of  May,  Friday,  and  arrived  at  New  Knglaml  .June  .;iili.  anno 
1)  -mini  WXi.  Aleni'n  :  We  came  to  l'roviden<  e  to  dwell  the  'Jith  (jf  April,  lOiii. 
Mr.moraniluin. 

••  lienedict  and  Demaris  Arnold  wore  married  the  17th  of  Dcfomhcr.  anno  Domini 
Ifiti).  Onr  Sonne  Henedict  was  horn  Fobrnary  in,  li;il— bein.L;-  our  lir>t  born,  and  bear- 
est  therefore  his  father's  name— at)0\it  two  honrs  before  day. 

"Our  second  Sonne  we  named  Caleb.    He  was  born  the  I'Jtli  of  December,  anno 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    I'Rl'ASOX. 


17 


lie  succeeded  IToger  "Williuins  as  President  of  the  Colo- 
iiv,  under  the  first  ehiirtev.  and  was  t^evend  times  eleeted 
(iovernor  unch^  the  second  eliiirter;  servini;  as  Ciovernor 
t'n. ni  ir.CP,  to  KiOO,  and  from  >Iay,  KiOl*,  to  lOTii;  also  fn»m 
l<i77  to  1G7S,  wlien  he  died.' 

Tlie  son  of  dovernor  J'eiicdiet  Ariwdd,  named  lu'iiedict, 
was  a  meml)er  of  the  Assemhly  in  1(i!»,">,  and  the  f^randson, 
also  named  Benedict,  moved  to  Xorwieh,  Connecticut,  in 
1730,  and  was  the  father  of  the  suhject  of  this  memoir. 
He  was  by  trade  a  cooper,  carryin^if  on  the  business  quite 
lar<;ely,  and  in  addition  he  eui^ai^ed  in  general  trafhc,  own- 
inir  several  vessels,  and  sometimes  comman<lin:;-  them,  and 
making  voyages  along  tne  coast,  and  to  the  AVest  Indies. 
As  the  commander  of  his  own  vessels  he  acquired  the  title 
of  captain,  by  which  he  was  generally  designated.  lie  was 
respected  by  his  townsmen,  and  by  their  selection  held  vari- 
ous town  olKces,  such  as  sui'veyor,  collector,  lister  (assessor) 
and  selectman.  He  married  Nov.  8,  17o3,  irannah,  the 
young  and  "  beautiful "  widow  of  Absalom  King,  her  maiden 
name  being  AVaternnm.  Her  family  was  respected,  and  she 
herself  was  distinguished  for  her  piety,  good  sense  and 
riirid  Puritan  character.  She  is  a  strict  Presbvterian, 
«»f  the  type  of  that  day  and  coloiiy,  but  in  her  this  form  of 
Christianity  was  softened  and  made  gentle  and  sweet  by  a 
most  affectionate,  and  kind  disposition.' 

IWfl,  (ibnut  8  o'clock  in  the  ovcniiiff.  Wo  cnllcd  him  Tnlcb,  In  memory  of  that 
worthy  Caleb,  which  only  accompanied  Ju.siiih  into  ye  land  of  pnimi^e  of  all  yt  came 
out  of  Egypt.  <t'C. 

"Our  third  Sonne  was  born  December  22nd,  lfil7,  about  midni^'lit.  lie  was  our 
tliird  child,  and  we  named  him  Josiah,  in  memcry  of  that  good  Josiah  which  purged 
tlie  lionse  of  Israel  from  idolatry,  &e. 

"  Our  fourth  sonne  w  as  born  ye  21st  of  October,  1051,  and  we  named  him  William, 
intending  he  should  have  the  name  of  his  grandfather,  but  God  pleased  in  liis  wis- 
dom to  take  him  away." 

1.  Arnold's  History  of  Rhode  Island,  5C5. 

It  is  mentioned  in  tlie  senealogy  above  quoted,  that  a  daughter  "lycth  interred 
under  a  tomb  in  my  land,  between  my  dwelling  house  and  o  stone  wind  mill." 
Tills  is  the  old  stone  wind  mill  still  standing  in  Newport. 

2.  I  have  received  the  following  memorandum  from  a  descendant  of  the  mother 


18 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


h 


'I'lic  ('liildrcM  of  this  inarringo  wore  f*i\',  tlirco  sons  fin«l 
tlirci!  (liuit^litcrs. 

IJeiitMlict  (a  liiniilv  iiaiiie  ninninp^  tliroijgli  several  gontT- 
atiuiis),  the  ehh'st,  died  in  iiitanc.y,  and  to  tlie  second  son, 
the  suhjcct  (»t'  this  memoir,  the  sanie  family  name  was 
given,  lie  was  born  at  Norwich,  on  the  14th  of  January, 
1T41.' 

Of  all  the  six  children  of  Caj»tain  Benedict  Arnold,  thin 
son  and  a  sister,  Hannah,  only  survived  the  period  of  child- 
hood. 

It  lias  heen  quite  the  fashion  for  our  historians  and  annal- 
ists to  stigmatize  JJcncdict  Arnold  as  of  low  birth  and 
vulgar  habits,  but  in  this,  as  in  many  other  ])articulars,  the 
passionate  desire  to  throw  discredit  upon  the  traitor,  has 

(if  Hoiirdlct  Arnold,  rlaltninp  for  her,  as  will  be  scon,  very  distin«;uislic(l  anoostry. 
I  ImvL'  no  niciuis  of  (leteniilniiiK  the  triilli  of  its  stutt'nit'nt.s,  but  insert  it  for  the  curi- 
ous in  such  iniiltcrs: 

(iKNKALociY— ilit.s.  Watkuman— AitNoi.ri— >toTiii:n  OF  15.  ARNOi.n— McMit.Thoni- 
iis  Tnicy,  one  of  tlio  (iritfiMiil  proiirleior.s  of  Norwii.li,  Conn.,  horn  in  Knt'Iaiid 
m  mil,  wns  n  linciil  doi'iinliuit  of  (he  L"JUii,'i'noration  from  F-t-'horl,  tlie  lir.-t  Suxon 
Ixini;  of  all  Knj,'lnnil,  lie  liat  seven  children,  viz.:  Jahn,  Jonallian,  Thonuis, 
Md-iam,  S'lloinoii,  Uiivid,  anil  Sam\iel. 

Jiilm  T/ficf/ was  an  ancestor  of  Iloii.  Ronbon  Hyde  Walworth,  ChancoUor  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  also  of  Mrs.  Gideon  M.  l»avidson,  the  muiher  of  C,  M. 
Davidson. 

.iDi'iitlian  Trcirji,  born  in  1041,  married  Mary  Griswold  and  had  nine  children,  the 
seconil  of  wliom  was 

JlmiiKih  True)/,  who  was  married  In  1095  to  Thomas  Davison,  1st,  the  great,  great 
RraiidfaUier  of  (Jideon  M.  Diivison,  the  father  of  ('lenient  M.  Davison. 

Miniam  Trarii,  born  in  MHH,  tb^  only  dautihter  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Traoy,  was  mar- 
ried in  Ifi'i.S,  to  Tlionias  Waterman,  one  of  the  orii,'inal  proprietors  of  Norwich,  son 
of  Robert  Walennan,  of  Kli/.abetli  Urown,  an  ancestress  of  Mrs.  (i.  >T.  Davisdu. 
Tliey  had  eii;lit  eliildren,  viz  :  Tliomas.  KHzabeth.  Jo/i/j,  Miriam,  Marllia,  I.ydia, 
Jiiseiili  and  Anne. 

,l(il\n  Waterman,  born  in  ir,7-2,  mnrrieil  in  1701  Elizabeth  Lathrop.  second  daughter 
of  Samuel  l.i'throp  and  llannali  .\d);ate,  of  Norwich  ;  tliey  bad  four  children,  one 
of  whom  was  the  niotlier  of  Gen.  Ueiiedict  Arnold,  wlio  was  the  third  cousin 
of  Thos.  Davl.son,  'Jnd,  the  great  gratul  father  of  (".  M.  Davison.  The  grand  chil- 
dren of  (ien.  Arnold,  and  the  fatlier  of  C.  M.  Davison  are  consequently  5tli 
cousins,  and  are  of  the  'Xk\  generation,  in  a  lineal  descent  from  King  Egbert. 

Windsor.  Canada,  Sept.  Cth,  18C2. 

"t,  Genralogy  of  Arnold  family— also  manuscript  letter  of  his  grandson.  Rev. 
Edward  Gladwin  Arnold.    Sue,  also,  Miss  C'aulklns'  History  of  Norwich,  p.  40'j, 


HIS    rATIlIOTlSM    AN'I)    HIS    TKKAHON. 


10 


rondcrctl  \]\vm  inaccunitn  and  luijnst.  Ilia  nncostors  in 
Kii<,Hiiii(l,  iiiid  liin  lorctatlnTs  in  lilKMlt-  I>liiii(|,  wvvo.  as  has 
Ik'ou  statt'il,  men  of  cliaracttr,  oducatioii  and  position,  and 
cortaiidy  no  luniily  in  Rliode  Island,  up  to  the  tinio  of  tho 
Kt'vohition,  had  ht'on  moro  honored  in  otlicial  jiositions,  and 
it  is  hut  simple  justice  to  ])hK'e  them  anioii";  the  most,  jirom- 
inent  of  the  founders  of  that  small,  hut  admirahle  State. 
M'liethrr  of  fjreat  ov  little  importance,  it  is  a  fact  that 
there  were  tew  ct)lonial  families  whose  lineatje,  hy  hotii  father 
and  mother,  was  more  entirely  res[)ectahle. 

Captain  Ueiiedict  Arnold  died  in  17G1.  The  house  oceu- 
]»ied  hy  him,  and  in  wliich  the  suhject  of  this  memoir  was 
horn,  stood  in  the  oM  part  of  the  town  of  >('orwi('h,  and 
was  not  demolished  until  1S53.  There  were  in  anil  around 
it  many  memorials  of  vonni;  Iienedict.  After  liis  removal 
to  New  Haven,  the  house  and  housolot  were  Bold  by  liim 
to  one  lliii^h  Leillie,  for  seven  hundred  pornds  sterlinjj^.  In 
consequence  of  the  insanity  of  the  wifu  of  Ledlie,  and 
exa<^^erated  tales  f^rowini^  out  of  this  circumstance,  the 
house  was  believed  to  be  haunted,  and  many  wild  stories 
of  supernatural  appearances  were  told  of  it,  and  credited  by 
the  superstititms. 

In  the  year  1775,  Deacon  WilliaTn  Philli})s,  of  I>oston, 
father  of  Lieutenant  Governor  I'hiliips,  moved  to  Xorwich 
and  occu})ied  the  old  Arnold  man^'  »n  nntil  the  Jiritish  left 
I3oston.' 

The  famoiis  IMalbones,  of  Newport,  were  the  next  occu- 
pants, and  the  misfortunes  of  that  family  added  to  its  Nveird 
reputation. 

Xext,  Col.  Moore,  of  Xorfolk,  Yiri^inia,  father  of  jiicliard 
Channing  ]\[oore,  IJishop  of  A'iri^inia,  occupied  it,  and  died 
there   in    17S4.     It  was  afterwards    ])urchased    by  Uriah 

1.    See  Miss  Caulkius'  History  of  Norwich,  page  411,  manuscript  letter  of  C.  C.  P. 
Wuterman. 


t   ' 


20 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    AIINOLD. 


N 


[  'I 


Trac}',  Nvho  lived  in  it  for  many  years  undisturbed.  .Tlio 
stran'fc  noises  and  sij^lits  for  wliieh  it  had  been  so  lou}; 
noted  now  eeased.  The  ^j^arden  and  <;roves  were  no  louf^er 
infested  with  stranire  visitants,  and  the  chambers  were  now 
(juiet  and  |)eacefwl. 

The  mother  of  J>enedict  Arn(dd  lias  been  described  by 
her  contemporaries,  and  by  tradition,  as  a  woman  of  extra- 
ordinary strenijth  of  character,  and  oitirely  devoted  to  lier 
family.  "  Benedict  Arnold's  mother,"  said  one  who  knew 
her  well,  "  was  a  saint  on  earth,  and  is  now  an  angel  in 
heaven.'" 

Several  letters  of  hers  still  extant,  prove  that  all  which 
was  said  in  her  praise  was  true.  She  died  Aug.  15th,  175S. 
The  inscription  on  her  tomb-stone  confirms  what  has  been 

said. 

"  ]n  memory  of  7/(7»nfr/(,  tho  wcli-bolovoil  wifo  of  Captain  Benedict 
Arnold,  and  dau<,diter  of  Mr.  John  and  Mrs.  Kli/.abotli  Waterman.  She 
was  a  pattern  of  piety,  patience  and  virtne:  wlio  died  Aug.  15th,  1758. 
.eatis  52."  > 

Captain  Oliver  Arnold,  the  uncle  of  Benedict,  died  in 
Isew  TIaven,  in  1 781.  He  had  long  been  an  invalid,  and  left 
very  little  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  his  family. 
After  the  death  of  his  uncle,  Benedict  was  always  liberal 
and  kind  to  them;  and  even  after  his  exile  in  England,  did 
not  forget  his  cousins,  and  his  remittances  to  them  are  said 
to  have  been  generous.  lie  assisted  the  eldest  son  to  a  lib- 
eral education;  but  the  young  man,  grieved  and  indignant 
at  the  conduct  of  his  cousin,  joined  the  naval  service  of  the 
United  States,  and  attaching  himself  to  the  celebrated  Paul 
Jones,  hoped  by  deeds  of  desperate  daring  to  efface  the  dis- 
grace which  his  cousin's  treason  had  attached  to  the  name, 
lie  returned  to  New  Haven  with  his  health  broken,  and  soon 
died. 


1.    Miss  Caulkins'  History  of  Norwich,  page  409,  and  manuscript  letter  of  C.  C.  P. 
Waterman. 


HIS   TATR  OTISM    AND   HIS   TREASOX. 


21 


.The 


)  loii^ 


of  the 

Id  Paul 

lie  dis- 

name. 
Id  soon 


bf  c.  c.  P. 


Another  son,  named  Oliver,  was  a  Lright  lad,  and  as  he 

j^rew  up  developed  a  talent  for  making  impromptu  rliymes; 

happening  in  at  a  book  store  in  New  Haven  one  day,  lie 

met  there  the  ])oet  Joel  Barlow,  and  was  ])resented  to  liim. 

liarlow  liad  lately  published  an  altered,  some  tliunght,  an 

improved,  edition  of  "Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns.     Young 

Olive    being  pressed  by  Barlow  to  give  a  specimen  of  his 

improvisations,  iinally  complied  by  addressing  Bai'low  as 

follows: 

"  You've  provod  youi-sclf  a  sinful  crotur, 
You've  niurtlored  Watts  and  spoilt  the  metro; 
You've  tried  the  word  of  God  to  alter; 
And  for  your  pains  deserve — a  halter."  ' 

He,  like  his  elder  brother,  was  a  devoted  patriot,  con- 
<lcmiiing  with  the  utmost  severity  the  conduct  of  his  cousin 
Benedict. 

This  lad,  mischievous,  wild  and  reckless,  very  early  be- 
came distinguished  for  personal  courage,  a  love  of  adven- 
ture, and  a  passionate  love  of  approbation.  The  excitement 
of  danger  had  for  him  an  irresistible  charm;  but  he  had  a 
(juickness,  a  readiness  of  invention  and  skill,  which  made 
the  most  daring  feats  to  him  comparatively  safe.  The  re- 
straints of  New  England  puritanic  life  were  very  irksome 
to  him,  and  he  became  known  among  the  deacons  and  select- 
men as  a  young  "dare-devil."  He  was  the  fearless  leader 
of  the  wildest  boys  in  every  bold  exploit,  and  sometimes 
reckless  and  unscrupulous.  Anecdotes  of  his  boyhood  have 
been  published,  indicating  cruelt3%  It  has  been  said  that 
he  would  scatter  pieces  of  broken  glass  iu  the  paths  fre- 
fpiented  by  his  schoolmates,  that  they  might  cut  their  feet 
in  returning  from  school;  and  that  one  of  his  amusements 
was  the  robbing  of  bird's  nests,  and  torturing  the  young 
birds. 

1.   See  manuscript  letter  of  C.  C.  T.  Waterman. 


22 


LIFE   OF    BEXEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Poi'liaps  tlio  intense  indignation  created  by  his  treason 
has  caused  these  early  anecdotes  to  be  exaggerated,  and 
possibly  too  great  a  significance  lias  been  attached  to  them. 
Certainly  if  the  mischievous  robbing  of  birds'  nests  is  to  be 
regarded  as  conclusive  proof  of  total  de])ravity,  and  if 
among  the  critics  of  Arnold,  only  those  who  hud  in  thought- 
less boyhood  been  guiltless  of  this  cruelty,  should  throw 
the  first  stone,  there  would  ])robably  be  fewer  liarsh  judges 
of  his  boyish  freaks  than  have  ap])eared.  But  of  his  bold, 
rash  feats  of  daring,  all  who  knew  him  bear  witness;  and 
many  anecdotes  exhibiting  these  traits,  have  come  down  to 
us.  For  instance,  when  a  lad  he  was  often  sent  to  the 
mill  with  Indian  corn,  to  be  ground.  While  waiting  for 
his  grist,  he  would  astonish  his  ])laymates  and  alarm  the 
lookers-on,  by  clinging  to  the  arms  of  the  great  water- 
wheel,  and  holding  on  as  it  made  its  revolutions,  he  would 
be  carried  high  in  the  air,  and  then  rapidly  descending, 
pass  beneath  the  water  of  the  streaui  by  which  the  great 
wheel  was  turned.' 

lie  "was  active  as  lightning,  and  with  a  ready  wit  always 
at  comnumd."  ^  lie  early  developed  the  equalities  of  a  nat- 
ural leader. 

In  every  kind  of  sport,  especially  if  it  had  a  dash  of 
mischief  about  it,  he  was  a  "dauntless  cajjtain,  and  as  des- 
]iotic  among  the  boys  as  an  absolute  monarch."  On  a 
day  of  public  rejoicing  over  some  success  of  the  British 
over  the  French,  he  brought  a  field -piece  out  upon  the 
conmion  and  placing  it  on  end,  the  muzzle  pointing  to  the 
hky,  he  emptied  into  it  a  powder-horn  full  of  powder,  and 
then  with  his  own  hand  dropped  into  it  a  bhiziiig  fire-brand! 
Only  his  activity  saved  him;  he  started  back  barely  in  time 
as  the  blaze  followed  within  an  inch  of  his  face.  And  yet 
undaunted,  his  huzza  was  the  loudest  of  the  crowd. 

1.  Spark's  Life  of  Arnold,  page  0. 

2.  C.  C.  P.  Waterman. 


% 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AXI)    HIS   TRKASOX. 


23 


A  story  i.s  told  of  his  figliting,  at  the  ivj^a  of  fourteen,  a 
constable  who  soui;ht  to  rechiini  I'runi  him  and  his  eoinrades 
><)ino  tar  barrels,  which  they  had  apjjropriated  for  a 
•"  Thank  snivii  ig  bonfire,'"' 

As  is  usual  with  tiie  brave,  he  was  generous,  and  liis  syni- 
]>athies  were  always  with  the  weak;  ho  was  the  ehanii>ion 
(if  the  smaller  lads  and  those  of  his  own  age,  and  no  bully 
was  ever  ])erniitted,  in  his  presence,  to  practice  any  injus- 
tice upon  the  younger  boys.  He  was  kind  to  his  friends, 
but  Would  never  sul)init  to  force. 

lie  received  the  advantages  of  what  would  be  regank'd  now 
as  a  fair  common  school  and  academic  education,  iiududing 
some  Iniowiedge  of  Latin  and  nvithennitics.  His  father  at 
one  time  whs  a  nuin  of  considerable  means,  as  we  have 
seen,  and  I'enedict  was  sent  abroad  to  schooL  A  letter  from 
his  mother  has  been  '])ublished,  dated  Aug.  l'2t\\.  1753,  ad- 
dressed to  him  at  Canterbury,  .some  twelve  miles  from  Xor- 
wich,  in  which  this  ii'ood  l*uritan  ladv  savs:  "Prav,  mv 
dear  son,  whatever  you  neglect,  don't  neglect  your  precious 
sold,  Avhich  once  lost  can  never  be  regained."  ^ 

She  begs  him,  for  her,  to  "give  service  to  Mr.  Cogswell 
and  lady."     lie  was  then  twelve  years  old. 

Another  very  interesting  letter  of  hers  is  as  follows: 

"Xouwuu,  Aiuil  rjtli,  17")4. 
Dkau  Cnii.ur-;: — I  roceivwl  youis  of  the  1st  instiuit,  aiul  wiis  ;r]iul  to 
lioar  thvt  you  wcro  woll.  Pray,  my  dear,  let  your  first  coiu't'rn  ljt>  to 
make  your  peaco  with  God,  as  it  is  of  all  concerns  of  the  greatest  inipor- 
tance.  Keep  a  steaily  watch  over  your  th(jui,'hts,  words  and  actions.  JJc 
dutytul  to  superiors,  obliyiny^  to  eipials,  and  atl'ahle  to  inferiors,  if  any 
such  there  be.  Always  choose  that  your  companions  be  your  l)etters, 
that  by  their  good  examples  you  may  li-arn. 

"  From  your  affectionate  mother, 

"  H.\NNAU  AllNOLD. 

"  r.  S.— T  have  sent  you  50s.  Use  it  priulently,  as  you  are  accountable 

1     Miss  Caalkins'  Uislory  of  Norwk-h,  page  412. 
.i.    New  Ilaveii  Juunial,  St'i)t.  «,  Ittjit. 


I 


21 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


to  God  and  your  Father.  Your  Fatlier  and  Aunt  join  with  me  in  lovo 
and  service  to  Mr.  Coj^swell  and  Lady,  and  yourself.  Your  sister  is  from 
home.'    "Vour  Father  puts  in  twenty  more."  * 

This  sum  sent  to  a  boy  of  thirteen,  as  pocket-money, 
vould  indicate  tliat  the  family  were  in  a  condition  to  give 
liim  whatever  advantaf^es  of  education  the  country  then 
afforded.  There  is  also  evidence  to  show  that  he  was  sent 
to  school  to  a  Dr.  Jewett,  of  Montville.* 

His  letters,  his  writings,  his  speeclies,  particularly  his  de- 
fense on  his  trial  before  the  Court-martial,  near  Philadel- 
phia, show  him  to  have  been  a  man  of  respectable  education 
for  tlie  days  in  which  he  lived. 

I  have  seen  in  the  hands  of  a  connection,  a  copy  of  a  latin 
school  book,  "  Cornelius  Nepos,"  (published  in  1748,)  and  in 
liis  own  hand-writing,  "'•  Benedict  Arnold,  Ejus  Liber." 

Those  writers  who  hav^o  spoken  of  him  as  illiterate  and 
vulgar,  have  been  neither  accurate  nor  just.  Although  not 
a  man  of  what  to-day  is  called  a  "liberal  education,"  his 
would  compare  favorably  with  that  of  many  officers  of  rank 
in  the  army  of  the  Revolution. 

In  1755,  the  war  between  France  and  Great  Britain, 
known  in  American  Annals  as  the  "Old  French  War," 
])roke  out.  In  the  following  year  Arnold,  then  less  than 
lifteen  years  of  age,  was  carried  away  with  the  romantic 
idea  of  being  a  soldier.  His  love  of  adventure  and  a  roman- 
tic wish  to  perform  daring  exploits,  led  him  to  run  away 
from  home  to  Hartford,  fi-oni  where  the  Connecticut  troops 
were  to  start  for  Lake  George  and  the  Northern  frontier, 
and  enlist  as  a  soldier.  His  mother  sought  and  obtained 
the  kind  offices  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lord,  and  through  him,  her 
darling  son  was  restored  to  her.  But  the  Connecticut  boy, 
destined  to  a  life  of  strange  adventure  on  land  and  sea,  grew 

1.  LossiiiR's  Fielil-nook  of  tlic  Revolution,  note;  Vol.  2,  page  005. 

2.  nill's  LilV  of  Arnolil,  ihiko  I'^i. 

3.  Uill's  Life  of  .\raold,  piigo  JO. 


'I 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


25 


moody  and  restless,  and  yearned  for  the  wild  life  of  the 
frontier;  so  excited  was  his  imaj^ination  witli  his  dreams 
of  a  soldier's  life,  that  he  left  his  home  a  second  time,  and 
joined  the  provincial  troops.  The  incidents  of  the  jonrney 
to  Albany  and  the  Lakes  by  the  school-boy  volunteer  are 
not  recorded.  If  this  soldier-lad  had  kept  a  journal,  and 
told  us  what  he  saw  as  he  passed  through  the  old  Dutch 
town  of  Albany,  and  the  incidents  of  his  march  through  the 
forests,  it  would  have  possessed  peculiar  interest;  but  we 
only  know  that  the  wilderness  was  then  unbroken  and  wild, 
frequented  only  by  the  scout  and  the  Indian,  and  that  Lake 
George  lay  beneath  its  over-hanging  Highlands,  with  none 
to  admire  its  beautj^,  except  when  some  hunter  or  soldier, 
some  Leatherstocking,  Uncas,  or  Ileyward,  paused  a  mo- 
ment on  its  shores,  to  be  led  from  "  Nature  up  to  Nature's 
God."  Pliilip  Schuyler,  then  lately  married,  commanded 
a  provincial  company.  George  Washington  was  preparing 
himself  by  severe  service  under  the  British  flag  to  lead  his 
country  to  Independence. 

AVith  what  anxiety  the  fond  mother  waited  the  return  of 
this  her  only  surviving  son,  may  be  imagined.  The  fancied 
charm  of  a  soldier's  life  was  soon  dispelled  by  experience; 
he  soon  wearied  of  military  discipline,  deserted,  and  returned 
through  the  wilderness  alone  to  his  home.  Although  an 
infant  in  law,  and  too  vounij  to  execute  a  valid  contract  of 
enlistment  into  military  service,  yet  some  apprehensions 
seem  to  have  been  felt  by  his  mother  and  friends  that  he 
might  be  arrested  as  a  deserter,  and  he  was  hidden  away 
M'hile  a  recruiting  officer  was  in  the  town. 

lie  had  already  become  familiar  with  lire-arms,  and  with 
tlie  pistol  and  the  rifle  had  few  if  any  superiors  as  a  marks- 
man. To  his  great  skill  lie  was  on  one  occasion,  at  least,  as 
will  be  seen  hereafter,  indebted  for  his  life. 

He  was  strong,  harily,  active,  and  excelled  in  all  atldetic 


1 


26 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


sports  and  gyirmastic  exercises.  In  fencing,  boxings,  in  ska- 
ting, in  runnin<5  and  leaping,  lie  had  no  superiors.  It  is 
said  that  even  after  he  recovered  from  his  wound  received 
at  Quebec,  when  making  the  campaign  to  relieve  Fort  Stan- 
wix,  he  could  readily  vault  over  a  loaded  ammunition  wagon 
without  touchiiiii:  hand  or  foot.' 

Previous  to  his  adventure  as  a  soldier,  he  had  entered  the 
employ  of  Doctors  Daniel  and  Joshua  Lathroj),  wlio  were 
relatives  of  his  mother.  They  kept  a  large  drug  store  in 
^N^orwich,  and  were  gentlemen  of  education — botli  mxm'c  grad- 
uates of  Yale  College;  and  Daniel  had  Unished  his  medical 
studies  in  London.  They  seem  to  have  been  esjiecially  kind 
towards  this  boy,  and  being  related  to  his  mother,  they 
manifested  more  than  usual  interest  in  his  fortunes.  They 
gave  him  a  home  in  the  family  of  Dr.  Lathrop,  the  head  of 
the  house.  They  had  a  large  business,  importing  their  own 
medicines,  and  had  furnished  medical  stores  to  the  Kiiii-lish 
army  in  the  French  War.'' 

Benedict  remained  with  them  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  and  then  removed  to  Xew  Haven,  where  aided 
by  his  former  employers,  he  establi sited  himself  as  a  drug- 
gist and  bookseller.'  His  business  rapidly  increased.  He 
enrraired  in  {general  trade  and  exchange,  and  his  cnertjv  and 
enterprise  enabled  him  raiudly  to  acipiire  considerable  ])roi>- 
erty.  He  end)arked  in  the  West  India  trade,  and  purchased 
and  ship[)ed  to  those  Islands,  horses,  mules,  beef  cattle,  and 
other  provisions.  He  sometimes  saile<l  his  ow^n  ships. 
He   had  quite   a   large    business    connection    in    Quebec, 

1.  Manuscript  letter  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Leake. 

2.  Miss  Caulkins'  History  of  Korwicli,  pages  320-7. 

3.  His  sign  is  still  preserved  in  Conncctiont  Hist'l  Society. 

"  B.  AriioM, 
Drupr/igl,  JloDkurllcr,    d'C, 
N7)t  Totiq'ie." 
"  Sibi  Totique."— For  himself  ond  for  all." 
Miss  Caulkins'  His,  of  Norwich,  page  U;i. 


■m 


\i^ 


HIS   rATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASON. 


27 


Avhic'li  he  visited  frequently,  buyiii!^  horses  in  Canaila  and 

sliii»iting  theni  from  there  to  tlie  West  Indies. 

From  his  extensive  trade  in   horses,  some  writers  have 

called  him  a  "  horse-jocky."     lie  knew   and  loved  a  good 

horse,  and  none  knew  Ijetter  how  to  ride, 

"To  turn  ami  wind  a  fiery  Pcfriisua, 
And  witch  the  workl  with  nohlc  liorsi'ninn^hip, " 

and  during  the  revolution  he  was  noted  for  always  being 

])articularly  well  mounted. 

This  business  of  bookseller  and  druggist,  and  general 
trader,  he  carried  on  for  several  years.  His  residence  in 
Xew  Haven  was  near  the  ship-yard.  "  It  was  a  handsome 
frame  building,  embosomed  in  shrubbery."  Young,  tine- 
looking,  prosperous  and  popular,  a  conteni])orary  says  of 
him,  "he  had  been  a  general  favorite  with  the  ladies,  fond 
of  their  society,  and  floating  in  the  gayest  circles  of  the 
day."  • 

On  the  22nd  of  February,  ITCT,  he  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  kfamuel  !Mansiield,  High  Sheriff  of  the  county. 
She  was  a  lady  of  good  family,  young,  interesting  atid  ac- 
complished, "  and  as  far  as  is  known,  his  iii'st  love.""" 

All  concur  in  representing  her  as  attractive  in  person, 
gentle  and  graceful  in  manner,  amiable  and  atfcctiuiuite  in 
disposition,  and  of  devoted  piety.  They  had  three  sons, 
Benedict,  born  February  14,  170S,  liichard,  born  August 
22,  1769,  and  Henry,  born  September  19,  1772.' 

His  only  sister,  Hannah,  never  married.  A  story  of  licr 
brother's  interference  and  op])osition  to  the  attentions  of  a 
French  adventurer  has  been  often  told;  and  it  is  said  a  dui'l 
grew  oui  of  the  aflair;  but  not  being  able  to  verify  it,  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  the  circumstances  have  been  exaij'i'erated, 
and  that  some  of  the  alleged  facts  are  untrue.     It  is  per- 

1.  MissCaulkin'snistory  of  Norwich,  p.  41.1. 

2.  Jliss  Caulkins  Historj'  of  Norwich,  p.  413. 
'■i.    Arnold's  Oeaualosy. 


28 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


fectlj  clear,  that  whatever  may  have  occurred,  nothing  was 
done  on  the  part  of  the  brother  which  disturbed,  to  any  ex- 
tent, the  tender  devotion  and  aftectiou  wliich  she  always 
manifested  towards  hiiri.  She  adhered  to  him  through  evil, 
as  well  as  good  repute,  and  was  ever  liis  useful  friend  and 
adviser,  and  the  watchful  guardian  of  his  interests. 

Mr.  Sparks,  speaking  of  this  sister,  says  several  of  her 
letters  which  he  had  seen  justify  the  tribute  to  her  good 
name,  "as  a  woman  of  rare  endowments  of  mind,  refine- 
ment and  delicacy,  and  other  qualities  of  female  excel- 
lence." '  "  Her  ardent  and  unceasing  attachment  to  her 
brother,  at  the  same  time  that  it  proves  the  depth  of  her 
own  feelings,  may  argue  the  existence  of  better  traits  in  his 
domestic  character  than  would  be  inferred  from  his  public 
conduct.  His  sister  was  his  devoted  friend  and  adviser,  and 
a  watchful  guardian  over  his  family  and  interests.'"  As 
evidence  of  this,  in  January,  1776,  she  procured,  through 
Silas  Deane,  the  settlement  of  a  claim  of  some  $800.19,  the 
balance  found  due  to  her  brother  "fur  his  expenses  and 
disbursements  in  the  taking  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticon- 
deroga."  * 

Mr.  Deane  says,  in  a  letter  to  her,  "  I  shall  ever  consider 
the  opportunity  I  have  had  of  serving  your  gallant  brother 
among  the  most  happy  incidents  of  my  life,  and  his  friend- 
ship and  conlidence  as  a  particular  honor."  *  She,  in  reply, 
Feb.  1st,  1770,  "  thanks  him  for  his  kind  services,  and  de- 
sires him  to  obtain  for  her  liberty  to  ship  a  cargo  of  lumber 
to  the  West  Indies;  the  long  absence  of  her  brother  in  Can- 
ada, on  the  expedition  against  Quebec,  rendered  it  necessary 
for  her  to  attend  to  his  affairs.  She  expresses  her  fears  of 
the  loss  by  her  brother  of  a  vessel  and  cargo  at  Quebec."  * 

1.  Spark's  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  11. 

2.  Spink's  Life  of  AnioUl,  p.  11. 

3.  Collections  of  Conn.  Uistoricnl  Society,  Vol.  2,  p.  354. 

4.  Collections  of  Conn.  Historical  Society.  Vol.  2,  p.  355. 
6.  Collections  of  Coun.  Uistorical  Society,  pages  337-8. 


HIS   PATllIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


29 


Ilor  letters  all  indicate  a  fifeiitlowoinim  of  refinement, 
dignity,  intelligence,  and  much  more  than  ordinary  good 
sense  and  judgment. 

"Whatever  may  have  been  the  faults  and  misfortunes  of  Ben- 
edict A  mold,  he  had  the  groat  good  fortune  to  have  a  mother, 
a  sister  and  a  wife,  each  an  ornament  to  her  sex;  women, 
all  of  tJiem  of  the  purest  character,  and  each  attached  to 
him  with  a  devotion  which  nothing  could  cluinge.  With 
all  his  faults,  there  must  have  been,  as  Mr.  Sparks  suggests, 
a  bright  side  to  his  character. 

lie  was  a  man  of  commanding  figure;  athletic,  strong 
and  active.  An  old  soldier^  who  fought  with  him  at  Be- 
mis'  Heights,  says  (I  quote  his  own  quaint  language):  "  He 
was  dark-skinned,  with  black  hair,  and  middling  height; 
there  was  n't  any  waste  timber  in  him;  he  was  our  fighting 
general,  and  a  bloody  fellow  he  was.  He  didn't  caro  for 
nothing;  he'd  ride  right  in.  It  was  '  Como  on,  boys' — 
't wasn't  'Go,  boys.'  He  was  as  brave  a  man  as  ever 
lived." 

Another  soldier,  a  comrade  with  him  in  his  expedition  to 
Quebec,"  says:  "Arnold  was  brave,  even  to  temerity;  he 
was  beloved  by  his  soldiers.  He  was  well  formed,  very 
stoutly  built,  with  a  florid  complexion."  Still  another 
describes  him  as  having  "light  eyes,  black  hair  and  dark 
complexion." ' 

An  anecdote  is  told  of  him,  occurring  at  this  period  of 
his  life,  which  sounds  more  like  the  adventures  of  a  rough 
knight  of  Medieval  times,  or  the  legends  of  Greek  or  Ko- 

1.  Samuel  Downitiff. 

2.  Henry's  Journal,  page  12. 

3.  Mr,  Lenkc,  In  the  letter  already  quoted  from,  soys:  "My  ftitncr,  some  fifteen 
years  his  (Arnold's)  junior,  and  a  near  neighbor  to  his  residence  and  business  estab- 
lishments, has  often  described  him  to  me,  as  about  his  o-vn  size,  which  was  some- 
thing below  the  middle  height,  well  formed,  muscular,  and  capable  of  great  endur- 
ance. He  described  him  as  a  finished  adept  in  all  athletic  exercises,  and  as  tho 
most  accomplished  and  graceful  skater"  (himself  no  mean  performer)  "  that  he  had 
ever  seen." 


1 


30 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


man  niytliolo2;y,  than  tlie  exj)l(>it  of  a  {'a])taiii  of  a  Xew 
England  n)ilitia  conii>any;  but  its  truth  has  never  been 
questioned.  Once,  while  drivini^  beet-cattle  on  to  a  vessel, 
a  refractory  steer  refused  to  ^o  aboard;  mad  and  wild  with 
rage  and  fright,  the  animal  broke  loose,  and  dashing  through 
the  crowd  of  men  engaged  in  loading  the  vessel,  defied 
pursuit.  Arnold  mounted  his  horse,  aTid  riding  ra])idly, 
overtook  the  animal,  seized  the  enraged  brute  l)v  the  horns 
and  nose,  and  held  him  fast  until  he  was  subdued  and 
secured. 

Another  anecdote,  illustrating  the  violence  of  his  unre- 
strained passions,  is  told.  Pi-evious  to  17(50  British  lieve- 
nne  Acts  had  been  enacted  which  were  generally  felt  to  be 
most  unjust  and  o])]n"essive  by  the  Colonies,  and  the  cus- 
tom-house officers  were  often  regarded  as  instruments  of 
oppression.  It  is  said  that  Arnold  was  not  particularly 
scrupulous  in  piying  the  duties  on  imported  goods;  nor 
was  his  evasion  of  custom  exactions  thought  by  his  neigh- 
bors in  those  days,  to  be  a  very  serious  otfense.  A  sailor 
who  had  sailed  on  one  of  Arnold's  vessels  to  the  AVest  In- 
dies, in  revenge  for  some  real  or  supposed  injury,  accused 
him  of  smuggling.  Arnold  gave  him  what  he  called  "a 
little  chastisement,"  but  which  others  called  a  flogginir,  and 
obtained  from  hiui  a  promise  in  writing  lu  leave  New 
Haven  and  never  return.  The  sailor  did  not  go.  and  Arnold 
finding  him  still  in  the  place,  headed  a  party  who  took  him 
to  a  public  whi})ping  post,  where  he  received  forty  lashes 
and  was  conducted  out  of  the  town.  Arnold  was  tried  for 
the  offense,  and  lined  tifty  shillings.* 

On  one  of  his  voyages  to  the  West  Indies,  the  ship  of 
which  Arnold  was  master,  lying  in  the  bay  of  Honduras, 
was  nearly  ready  to  sail  for  home.  Some  circumstances 
induced  him  to  send  the  ship  back  in  charge  of  the  mate. 

1.    Arnold's  own  account  of  this  transaction  may  be  found  in  Hill's  Life  of 
Arnold,  poufS  22  to  25. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TUKASOX. 


ol 


"While  very  busy  prj]).ii'iii^'  the  jwipors  and  arniiii,'niij  for 
tlic  departure  of  tlie  vesst-l,  a  curd  of  invitation  was  hrou^'lit 
to  him  from  a  ('a|)tain  C'roskio,  comniandin^j^  a  ]jritish 
merchant  ship  in  tlie  bay,  inviting  hira  to  attend  u  social 
party  that  evening.  J'eing  very  much  occu|)ied,  he  did  not 
attend,  and  nei;lec'ted  to  Kcnd  his  rej^ret.  The  next  morn- 
ing  he  called  on  the  ]>ritish  otKcer  to  jiay  his  resjiects  and 
apologize;  for  the  m\i,dect.  lie  was  received  very  rudely, 
and  called  "ad — d  Yankee,  destitute  of  good  manners  or 
those  of  a  gentleman." 

The  young  American  made  no  rei)ly,  except  quietly  to 
draw  oif  his  glove,  an<l  haiuling  it  to  the  Knglishman, 
retired.  A  hostile  meeting  was  arranged  for  the  next  morn- 
ing on  an  island  near  by,  and  each  was  to  be  accompanied 
by  a  surgeon  and  his  seconds  only.  Arnold,  with  his  sur- 
gejon  and  seconds,  was  promptly  on  the  ground,  and  after 
waiting  some  time  beyond  the  liour  named,  and  supposing 
('roskie  was  not  coming,  was  about  to  leave,  when  the 
English  Ca])tain  was  seen  approaching,  accompanied  by  six 
or  eight  swarthy  natives.  Suspecting  treachery,  Arnold  con- 
sulted with  his  seconds  an<l  surgeon,  and  they  agreeing  to 
stand  by  him,  he  resolved  that  none  but  the  iMiglishman  and 
his  authorized  friends  should  be  permitted  to  lan<l.  AVlien 
Croskie  and  his  party  came  within  hailing  distance,  Arnold 
commanded  a  halt  and  demanded  why  the  natives  were 
brought,  in  violation  of  the  agreement. 

Croskie  nnide  some  excuse,  but  Arnold  standing  on  the 
beach  with  his  ]>istol  cocked,  forbade  their  apj)roach  on 
peril  of  their  lives,  but  ])erinitted  his  antagonist  and  his 
seconds  to  come  ashore,  com{)elling  the  boat  aii<l  natives  to 
keep  ofl'.  The  ground  being  then  measured,  the  English- 
man as  the  challenged  party,  liad  the  first  fire.  This  Ar- 
nold received  without  injury.  Arnold  then  fired,  wounding 
but  not  disabling  his  adversary.     The  wound  having  been 


32 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


dressed,  Arnold  called  upon  liim  to  resume  his  jvisition,  and 
niinouiiccd  that  ho  was  ready  to  receive  another  shot,  add- 
infjf,  "I  ^ivo  you  notice,  if  you  miss  this  time  I  shall  kill 
you."  The  En<rlishman  thereupon  apolojrized  for  his  insults 
and  extended  his  hand,  which  "  tho  Yankee"  received,  and 
they  then  returne'""  together  in  tho  same  harge.' 

1.    Tho  above  particulars  were  furnished  me  by  Thomas  Wat-rinaii,  of  the  same 
family  of  Waterman  to  which  tho  mother  of  Arnold  belonged. 


m 


CHATTKU     II. 


TIC'  N'DEROGA  AND  CROWN  TOINT. 


'•  Our  worthy  frirnfl,  rol.  ArnoM,  not  hnviiie;  tlip  "iV  Innnr  (i(  rf 'liirlin  Tlrnndir- 
riua  and  •rowii  I'dliit,  dclL'ruiilici.1  U)»)a  uli  lxj  (.(litinii  (d  .>^t.  JdImih,  iu  \vlili:li  liu 
liahplly  Buccveded." 

"CiKNKKAI,  JOSKPU  WAHnES." 

'I'lIP.    HosTON    MASSAf.KE— AnX0l,D'8    FlKItY    rATi:IOTIi,M— Ills    I.I;TTI;U— IJaTTI.E   (iF 
I.KXl.NliTOS— CAPT.  AllSOLD  VOLUNTEERS   AND    LEAbtl  llis    CoMl'ANY    TO    CAM- 

jiuiDfiE— KxrK.niTioN  to  TicoNPEnocA— Caitires  Pt.   Johns— Wabuen   his 

rillENP  — iNJfsTK  E  TO  A'tNoI.D-DEATlI  OF  HIS  WiFE— ToVCHINO  LKTTEII  OF  HIS 

SisTKH,  Hannah  Aunoi.d. 

DruiNO  tlie  }-e!irs  of  1705,  atid  on  to  1770,  Ariiuld  was 
actively  (Mij^aged  in  a  lai'i^e  and  inci'casini;  Itusinesss,  and  uj)- 
l)arontly  contented  and  liaj^py  with  liis  tiiniiiy.  Jlis  active 
and  adventurous  spirit  found  ejuploynient  in  visits  to  Can- 
ada and  voyages  to  the  West  Indies,  and  an  occasional  trip 
to  London. 

Meanwhile,  the  discontent  of  tlu;  coh>nies  witli  the  niotii- 
er  country  was  constantly  incr(^asin<;.  The  home  ijovern- 
nient  was  arbitrary,  ojtpressive  and  arroirant.  The  cohmies 
were  bei^inning  to  realize  their  j)ower,  and  tlie  s»ieds  of  the 
revolution  were  heofinnincr  to  ijerniinate. 

In  ^larch,  1770,  a  collision  occurred  in  tlie  streets  of  Bos- 
ton, between  the  peo])le  and  the  IJritish  soldiers,  in  wJiieh 
several  citizens  were  killed. 

The  incident  known  in  contemporary  American  history 
as  "the  Boston  massacre,"  caused  an  intense  feeling  of  in- 
dignation throughout  the  thirteen  colonies. 

3  (33) 


34 


LIFE  OF  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 


! 


I 


i 


AiMiold  was  at  tlie  time  absent  on  a  voyage  to  tlie  West  In- 
dies, but  when  news  of  the  event  reached  him,  all  the  fiery  zeal 
and  inipetnosity  of  his  character  were  roused,  and  he  wrote 
lionie,  saying,  "I  was  very  much  shocked  the  other  day  on 
hearing  the  accounts  of  the  most  wanton,  cruel  and  inhu- 
man murders  committed  in  Boston  by  the  soldiers.  Good 
God!  are  the  Americans  all  asleep,  and  tamely  yielding  U]) 
their  liberties,  or  arc  tliey  all  turned  j^^iilosnp/ters,  that  they 
do  not  take  immediate  vengeance  on  such  miscreants'?"  * 

This  was  among  the  first  utterances  of  this  then  fervid 
patriot,  lie  was  at  that  t'lme  person.illy  very  popular  in 
Xew  Haven,  and  was  at  about  that  ])eri(xl  elected  captain 
of  tlie  Governor's  guards,  an  independent  military  com- 
pany, composed  of  tlie  most  spirited  and  active  young 
men  of  the  city. 

A\  hen  after  near  five  .  ars  of  hard  and  active  service — 
a  service  which  involved  as  much  j^ersonal  exposure,  hard- 
ship and  suffering  as  was  incurred  by  any  officer  of  the  war,  he 
stood  at  Morristown,  in  New  Jersey,  before  a  court-martial, 
as  hereinafter  detailed,  to  defend  his  honor.  He  thus  speaks 
of  his  condition  when  the  war  began : 

"Whon  the  present  necessary  war  ajrainst  Great  Britain  commencetl, 
1  was  in  easy  circumstances,  and  enjoyed  a  fair  prospect  of  improving 
them.  I  was  happy  in  domestic  connections,  and  blessed  with  a  risin<^  fam- 
ily who  claimed  my  care  and  attention.  The  liberties  of  my  conntry  were 
in  danger.  The  voice  of  my  country  called  upon  all  her  faithful  sons 
to  join  in  her  defense.  With  cheerfulness  I  obeyed  the  call;  I  was  one 
of  the  first  in  the  field." '^ 

Tfc  was  a  merchant  of  property,  doing  a  large  business. 

"lie  was  possessor  of  an  elegint  house,  Gtorehouses  and 

wharves  and  vessels,"  at  New  llaven.' 

1.  Lottor  of  Arnold  to  B.  Donglns,  June  9, 1770;  printtHl  in  nistorical  Slagazine, 
April,  IS  w,  p.  ll'.i. 

■2.    Trial  of  General  AinoM.  i>.  loj. 

3.  See  certificate  of  Jeremiah  Millet'.  Jr..hefore  Board  of  Claims,  London,  March 
T).  1781,  who  estiiniiti's  Arnold's  jiripeity  at  New  Haven  at  £'2, 100  currency,  all  of 
which,  he  says,  was  confiscated. 


HIS   PATKIOTISM    AND   IIIS   TREASON. 


85 


laEazine, 


|n,  March 
uy,  aVi  of 


He  and  General  AVooster,  an  otiiccr  in  the  then  recent 
M'ur  airainst  France,  seem  to  liave  been  tlie  iionnlur  leaders. 
Wooster  was  an  elderly  gentleman,  cautious  and  conserva- 
tive, wliile  Arnold  was  at  the  head  of  tlie  ardent,  zealous 
young  men,  who  could  M'ith  difficulty  be  restrained  i'roui 
open  violence. 

The  liev,  Samuel  Peters,  in  the  appendix  to  his  history 
of  Connecticut,  states  that  in  177-i,  while  he  "was  being 
])ersecuted  as  a  tory,"  by  what  he  calls  a  mob,  he  applied  to 
James  Ililhouse  for  protection,  and  that  J\[r.  Ililhouse  re- 
])lied,  "I  want  protection  myself  against  the  mobs  of  Col. 
AVooster  and  Dr.  Benedict  Arnold."  '  Peters  also  relates 
that  after  he  "  had  taken  refuge  in  tlic  house  of  the  Kev.  Dr. 
llultbard,  and  armed  it  as  his  castle,  with  twenty  muskets, 
iuul  powder  and  balls,  that  Arnold  and  his  mob  came  to  the 
gate.  Peters  said:  ''Arnold,  so  sure  as  you  split  the  gate, 
1  will  blow  your  brains  out."  Arnold  retired,  saying  "  I  am 
no  coward,  but  I  know  Dr.  Peters'  disposition  and  temper. 
*     "^^    *■     I  have  no  wish  for  death  at  present." 

The  battle  of  Lexington  was  fought  on  the  10th  of  April, 
1775.  The  news  of  this  battle  sent  an  electric  shock 
throughout  the  Colonies.  All  New  England  was  in  an 
uproar.  Xew  York,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  the  Carolinas, 
everywhere  the  people  were  roused  to  action,  and  with  one 
voice  tliey  echoed  the  cry  of  Virginia's  great  orator,  Patrick 
HemT,  "Liberty  or  death."  The  reports  of  the  collision, 
like  the  vibrations  of  an  eartlupiake,  shook  tlie  whole  con- 
tinent. From  the  ]\[errimac  to  the  Hudson,  from  the 
^[ohawk  to  the  Delaware  and  Potomac,  from  tlie  Green 
]\Iountains  to  the  Gulf  of  J\[exico,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Alleghanies,  the  people  flew  to  arms  and  shouted,  "Let  us 
march  to  the  aid  of  our  brethren  in  Massachusetts." 

The  news  of  this  battle,  fought  on  the  nineteenth  of  April, 

1.    History  of  Connecticut,  by  Dr.  Samuel  Peters,  1781 ;  re-published,  1877. 


3G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


W 


1-eacliod  Xew  Haven  at  inid-dav  of  the  twentieth.  Arnold 
instantly  called  his  company  to<j;etlier  in  the  public  square, 
and  addressing  them  with  all  the  fervor  of  patriotic  zeal, 
declared  he  was  ready  to  lead  them  to  Boston,  and  called 
for  volunteers.  A  very  largo  majority  at  once  oflered  to 
go,  and  those  being  joined  by  some  patriotic  students,  they 
numbered  in  all  about  sixtv.  The  next  morning,  beiuir 
ready  to  start,  Arnold  called  upon  the  selectmen  of  New 
Haven  for  ammunition.  They  refused  it,  Gen.  Wooster  say- 
ing they  had  better  wait  for  regular  orders.  This  did  not 
suit  the  im])etuou3  tem])er  of  Arnokl^  so,  marching  his 
company  to  the  place  where  the  selectmen  were  in  session, 
he  sent  them  notice  tliat  unless  the  keys  were  produced  in 
five  minutes  he  would  order  his  men  to  break  oy)en  the 
doors  of  the  magazine.  The  kevs  were  given  to  him,  the 
amminiition  was  obtained,  and  he  and  his  men  were  off  for 
Cambridge.  (Jen.  AVooster  tried  to  persuade  him  to  wait 
for  reguhu'  orders.  Arnold  exclaimed,  '^Xone  but  Al- 
mighty God  shall  })revent  my  marching."  In  jiassing 
throu<i:h  Pomfret  thcv  were  ioincd  bv  the  veteran  General 
Putnam,'  who  did  not  stay  even  to  remove  his  plough  from 
the  furrow  he  was  breaking. 

On  his  arrival  at  Cambridge,  Arnold  took  ])Ossession  of 
and  made  his  headquarters  at  the  mansion  of  Gov.  Oliver, 
who  had  fled,  lie  and  his  company  were  well  drilled,  well 
uniformed  and  equipped  soldiers,  having  been  the  pride  of 
the  city  of  New  Haven.  Their  fine  a])pearance  caused  their 
selection  as  a  guard  of  honor  to  deliver  to  Governor  Gage 
the  bod}'  of  a  British  officer,  who  had  been  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner  at  the  ].exington  light,  and  who  hud  died  of 
his  wounds. 

It  is  a  curious  fact,  which  strikingly  illustrates  the  high 
moral   character  of  this   band  of  volunteers,  that  before 


1.    Lossiiig's  Field  Book  of  the  Pwcvolutloti,  p.  422. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


37 


startiiii^  for  Boston,  Captain  Arnold  and  each  of  the  officers 
sind  privates  solemnly  set  their  names  to  articles  of  agree- 
ment, in  which,  appealing — ' 

"To  all  Christian  people  believing  and  relyinj,'  on  that  Goil  to  whom 
our  enemies  have  forced  us  to  apply;  and  havin},'  taken  up  arms  for  the 
relief  of  our  brethren  and  for  the  defense  of  their  and  our  just  riyhts;" 
to  prevent  disorders,  etc.,  each  bound  himself  by  all  that  iu  sacred  to  ob- 
serve and  keep  this  mutual  covenant. 

1st.  'J'hat  they  would  conduct  themselves  decently  and  inoffensively, 
V)0th  to  their  countrymen  and  to  each  other,  and  would  obey  all  thj  rules 
and  regulations. 

2nd.  Drunkenness,  gaming,  profanity  and  every  vice,  should  be  dvoid- 
ed  and  discountenanced. 

3rd.  Obedience  to  their  officers  was  not  to  be  enforced  by  blows,  but 
if  any  person  guilty  of  any  ott'ense,  after  being  admonished,  should  per- 
sist, such  incorrigible  person  should  be  expelled,  "  as  totally  unworthy 
of  serving  in  so  great  and  glorious  a  cause."  * 

The  conii)anj  marched  with  Hags  on  which  wore  emblaz- 
oned the  arms  of  the  colony,  and  upon  each  banner  and 
drum  they  caused  to  be  inscribed,  in  letters  of  gold,  "  Qui 
traniftuUt  nustinet" — the  motto  of  Connecticut — "He  who 
brought  us  hither  will  su])port  us;"  or,  "God,  who  trans- 
planted us  hither,  will  support  us." 

Such  was  the  motto  and  such  tlie  covenant  under  which 
lienedict  Arnold,  the  pati'iot,  began  his  military  career. 
Xo  sooner  had  he  reached  the  can)])  at  Cambridge  than  he 
went  before  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety  and  proposed 
an  expedition  to  capture  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.' 

These  forts  were  the  keys  to  the  communications  be- 
tween Canada  and  New  York.  Here  and  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, had  been  the  battle-fields  of  the  old  French  and  In- 
dian wars.     The  shores  and  waters  of  ].ake  Geor<re  and 

1.    Collcrtions  of  Connecticut  Hist.  Society,  Vol.  IF.  pp.  Jlo-Jn.     American  Ar- 

f)iivi>s,  iVT.'i;  Vol.  II,  pp.  as;;,  ;i84. 

■1.  Vor  the  text  of  this  agreement  see  collections  of  Connecticut  Historical  Socie- 
ty, Vol.  II,  p.  'JU. 

;!.    Soc  letter  of  Arnold,  April  liOth,  to  Muss.  Committee,  Rivini;  detailed  stdtcincnt 

nf  the  eonditlou  of  Ticuudcroga,  found  iu  Force's  American  Archives,  4th  Scries, 

Vol.  II,  p.  45U. 


38 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    AKNOLD. 


Cliaiiiplain  had  been  the  scenes  of  conflict,  adventure  and 
romance,  since  the  early  settlement  of  the  country.  It  was 
Avell  known,  and  to  none  more  clearly  than  to  Arnold,  that 
the  British  ])0sts  on  these  lakes  were  feebly  garrisoned  and 
carelessly  guarded,  and  that  they  contained,  what  the  colo- 
nies then  most  needed,  military  stores,  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion in  large  quajitities. 

The  imagination  of  Arnold  was  fired  with  the  idea  of 
ca])turing  these  ]tosts,  and  he  m\is  ambitious  of  the  glory 
of  striking  a  blow  so  important  for  his  country,  lie  had, 
when  a  boy,  visited  these  lakes,  and  was  ftimiliar  with  the 
localities.  Dr.  Josej>h  "Warren,  "the  first  great  martyr," 
as  Daniel  "Webster  called  him,  was  then  a  member  of  the 
committee  and  entered  warmly  into  the  project  of  Arnold,' 
and  here  was  formed  a  warm  j^ersonal  friendship  between 
these  two  men,  both  of  whom  seem  at  that  time  to  have 
been  acting  with  "the  utmost  patriotic  ardor."  To  the 
kindness  of  Warren  on  this  occasion  and  the  personal  at- 
tachment then  formed  mav  be  attributed  the  gratitude  on 
the  ])art  of  Arnold,  which  survived  the  death  of  his  friend 
and  was  manifested  in  the  generous  aid  furnished  by  him 
for  the  education  of  the  orphan  children  of  "Warren,  and 
which  will  be  fully  narrated  hereafter. 

Arnold  presented  the  project  so  clearly,  and  such  was  the 
impression  made  upon  the  committee  by  his  intelligence, 
energy  and  enthusiasm,  that  they  immediately  and  eagerly 
commissioned  him  as  colonel,  and  authorized  liim  to  raise 
four  hundred  troops  for  the  service.  He  was  instructed  to 
leave  a  garrison  at  Ticonderoga,  and  return  to  Cambridge 
with  the  arms  and  stores  that  he  might  capture.  The  Con- 
gress of  Massachusetts  supplied  him  with  money,  powder, 

1.  See  letter  of  Warren,  dnted  Cnmbridgc,  April  SOth,  177 'i,  quoted  In  Frotliini;- 
Imm's  Life  of  Warren,  page  47 1.  "  lienediet  Arnold  proposed  to  lead  an  expedition 
to  capture  Ticonderoga.  Warren  was  appointed  on  a  committee  on  this  subject, 
and  look  great  Interest  iu  it."— Frolhimjliam's  Life  of  Warren,  p.  474. 


^^m 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


V/J 


liijence, 


4 


lead,  flints  and  horses,  and  lie  set  off  on  the  expedition  with 
the  utmost  speed.  He  was  instructed  to  raise  his  men  in 
AVestorn  Massacliusetts. 

lla\'n<^  been  commissioned  on  the  Od  of  May,  and  ari'iv- 
in<^  in  8tockbri(iy;e  on  the  Gth,  he  learned  with  snr[)rise  that 
an  exj)edition  for  the  same  purpose  had  ah"ead_y  started,  and 
was  on  the  way  to  the  lakes.  He  himself  had  no  men, 
and  leaving  some  oilieers  to  raise  troops,  he  hastened  for- 
ward, and  on  the  Dtli  overtook  an  expedition  under  com- 
uuuid  of  Kthan  Allen,  leading  a  body  of  "Green  Mountain 
boys''  towards  Lake  (Jeorge.^ 

Arnold  exhibited  his  commission  .and  claimed  the  com- 
mand; but  as  he  had  no  soldiers  and  was  a  stranger,  the 
volunteers  naturally  preferred  their  own  olHceis,  and  refused 
to  recognize  him.'  A  small  party  from  Connecticut,  and 
another  from  Berkshire  county,  under  Colonel  Easton,  had 
joined  Allen.  Arnold  has  been  censured  for  claiming  the 
command.  His  manner  of  doing  so  may  have  been  arro- 
gant, but  he  certaiidy  was  the  only  otlicer  who  had  then  been 
commissioned  to  ca])ture  these  posts  by  any  recognized 
State  authority.  Allen's  leadership  was  by  the  selection 
of  his  troops.  Massachusetts,  the  leading  New-Eng- 
land colony,  and  on  whose  soil   the  war  had    bcL'^un,  had 


iriven  to  Arnold   a  reuul: 


ir  commission, 


full 


instructiouf 


and  authorized  him  to  raise  the  necessary  troojis,  and  in 
claiming  the  command  he  was  hardly  going  bevond  his 
authority  ;  but  while  it  was  natural  he  should  claim  the 
command,  it  ivas  ecjually  natural  that  the  "Green  IVFoun- 
tainBoys"  under  Allen  should  refuse  it  to  him.  Arnold 
was  compelled  to  yield  the  point  and  joined  the  expedition 
as  a  volunteer,  insisting,  howevei",  upon  his  rank,  but  issu- 
ing no  orders.'    Early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  jNfay, 


1.  See  I.ossinir's  Field  Book  of  tlic  Revohitiuli,  Vol.  I,  p.  124. 

2.  Simrks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  I'l. 
a.    Soiirks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  17. 


>il 


M 


40 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


the  party  readied  the  shore  of  ]>ake  Georj^o,  and  were  dis- 
appointed ill  finding  very  few  boats  witli  Avliicli  to  cross; 
but  botli  Arnold  and  Allen  appreciated  the  fatal  conse- 
(juences  of  delay:  the  fort  must  be  surprised,  if  captured 
at  all,  and  so  they  hastened  across  tlie  water,  with  the  small 
number  of  men  their  few  boats  would  carry,  and  at  the 
early  dawn  Allen,  with  Arnold  at  his  side,  and  ein'hty-three 
men  man  lied  through  a  sally -jiort,  and  captured  Ticonde- 
roga!  iliey  were  not  disappointed  in  the  arms  and  mili- 
tary stores  found  in  the  fortress — one  hundred  and  twenty 
iron  cannon,  fifty  swivals,  two  ten-inch  mortars,  ten  tons 
»>f  musket  balls,  three  cart  loads  of  flints,  thirty  gun  car- 
riages, sliells.  ten  casks  of  powder,  material  for  boat  build- 
ing, two  braco  ciinnon,  and  pork,  flour,  etc,  were  the  valu- 
able spoils  taken. 

After  the  surrender,  Arnold  again  insisted  on  taking 
command  of  the  post,  affirming  that  no  other  person  pres- 
ent was  vested  with  an  authority  equal  to  that  conferred  on 
him  by  Massachusetts.*  In  order  to  comply  with  the  in- 
structions of  tiiat  colony,  to  send  the  captured  arms  and 
ammunition  to  Cambridge,  it  seemed  necessary  that  he 
should  have  command.  In  harmonv  with  this  idea.  Gen- 
eral  Warren  M'rote  to  the  Connecticut  authorities,  May  17th, 
asking  them  to  appoint  "Colonel  Arnold  to  take  charge  of 
them  (the  arms,  ifec,,)  and  bring  them  down  in  all  ])ossil)le 
haste,"  and  this,  he  suggests,  "may  be  a  means  of  settling 
any  dispute  which  may  have  arisen  between  him  and  some 
other  ofticers  which  we  are  always  desirous  to  avoid,  and 
now  especially,  at  a  time  when  our  common  danger  onglit 
to  unite  us  in  the  strongest  bonds  of  amity  and  aftection.''^ 

But  the  Connecticut  committee  which  had  followed  the 
troops,  instead  of  doing  this,  by  a  formal  written  instru- 

1.  Spnrks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  IS. 

2.  Sec  letter  of  Warren,  in  I'^iotliiiighnm'.s  Life  of  Warren,  p.  100. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


41 


11  pres- 
■rod  on 
le  in- 
s  aiul 
at  he 
Gen- 
iTth, 
urge  of 
ossible 
.^ttling 
(1  some 
tl,  niul 

Olli^llt 

fction.'"^ 
kI  the 
iiistru- 


ment,  apiwinted  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  commander  of  Ticon- 
deruixa  nntil  i'urther  orders  from  that  iState,  or  from  the 
C<nitinental  Congress.  Arnold  protested,  and  sent  a  state- 
ment of  Ills  proceedings  to  the  authorities  of  ^[assachnsetts.* 

Four  days  after  the  surrender  of  Ticonderoga,  the  first 
detachment  of  about  fifty  men  enlisted  under  the  orders  of 
Arnold,  joined  him  at  that  place.  Tliey  came  by  way  of 
Skeneshorough,  and  brought  with  them  a  schooner  taken 
there  from  a  Major  Skene,  "a  dangerous  Lritish  agent."  ' 

Now,  at  last,  Arnold  had  a  few  troops  who  recogidzed  him 
as  their  commander,  lie  immediately  armed  and  took  com- 
mand of  this  vessel,  and  with  a  party  of  his  soldiers,  sailed 
down  the  lake  to  St.  Johns,  surprised  and  captured  the  gar- 
rison, ca])turing  a  king's  sloop  and  crew;  he  seized  also  a 
number  of  batteaux,  and  putting  on  board  the  valuable  stores 
from  the  fort,  returned  to  Ticonderoga. 

There  seems  to  have  been  a  race  between  Arnold  and 
Allen,  and  this  time  Arnold  beat,  for  on  his  return,  when 
about  fifteen  miles  from  St.  Johns,  he  met  Allen  on  his  way 
to  attack  the  same  place." 

Thus  these  brave  spirits,  led  by  Allen  and  Arnold,  by  "a 
series  of  daring  exploits,"  had  captured  the  keys  to  Canada, 
securing  control  of  lakes  George  and  Champlain,  and  ob- 
taining a  large  amount  of  arms  and  n)ilitary  stores,  so 
greatly  needed  by  the  colonies.  All  the  sanguine  re]>re- 
sentations  of  Arnold  to  the  Massachusetts  committee  had 
been  more  than  realized,  not,  it  is  true,  by  his  own 
etlbrts  alone;  others  as  well  as  he,  had  a])]ireciated  the 
vast  importance  of  this  exjiedition.  The  idea  seems  to 
have  occurred  to  him  and  to  several  others  at  about  the 

1.  Fee  Baneroffs  Uistoryof  the  United  States,  Vol.  VII,  p. 340. 

2.  Warren  writes,  May  2.Jtli,  ITT'i : 

"  Our  worthy  friend.  Col.  Arnold,  not  having  had  the  tole  hnnnr  of  reducing  Ttcon- 
ili'Mu'a  and  Crown  I'oint.  (leterniii:ed  npon  an  {■xpiMlition  to  St.  Johns,  in  which  he 
iuippily  :.iicceedea."— itWcr  (/  Wurnn,  in  Fivthinuhjiitu  l.ijv  oj  Warren,  p.  494. 


4? 


LIFE   OF   LENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


M\ 


li 


same  lime;  indeed,  the  moment  hostilities  commencfMl  the 
obviuns  tliini^  to  do  was  to  surpri.-e  and  ca|)ture  the  British 
posts  on  tlie  hd<es.  Governor  Truniball,  of  Connecticut, 
speaking  of  the  disputes  on  the  subject  of  i)riority,  says: 
"It  is  a  matter  of  diversion  Mitli  me  to  see  the  various 
competitors  vontending  so  strenuously  about  a  matter  in 
the  execution  of  which  all  concerned  justly  deserve  ap- 
])lause."  If  it  were  a  matter  of  importance  to  settle,  who 
lirst  suggested  the  ex])edition,  there  is  considerable  evidence 
tendinis  to  show  tli;it  the  honor  belonijs  to  Arnold. 

Col.  Samuel  11.  Parsons,  in  a  letter'  to  Josejdi  Trumball, 
April  26,  1773,  speaking  of  what  occurred,  says:  "On  my 
way  to  Hartford  I  iiell  in  with  Captain  Arnold  who  gave  me 
an  account  of  the  (state  of  Ticonderoga,  and'  that  a  great 
numher  of  brass  canno7i  were  there."  Governor  Hall, 
of  Vermont,  speaking  of  this  interview,  says:  "Ca])tain 
Benedict  Arnold  spoke  to  Samuel  II.  Parsons,  of  the  Con- 
necticnt  Assembly  of  the  im]K>rtance  and  feasibility  of  its 
(Ticondenga)  capture  and  his  desire  to  attempt  it."" 

"Colonel  Samuel  II.  Parsons,  returning  from  Massachu- 
setts to  Hartford,  April  2G,  1775,  met  Benedict  Arnold,  then 
captain  of  a  company  of  volunteers,  on  his  nnirch  to  the 
Camp  at  Cambridge.  At  this  interview  the  surprise  of 
Ticonderoiia  was  suy-ijested."  "  Parsons'  letter  before  referred 
to  clearly  shows  that  it  was  Arnold  who  made  the  sugges- 
tion, for  he  says:  "  He  (Arnold)  gave  mean  account  of  the 
state  of  Ticonderoga,  and  said  that  a  great  number  of  brass 
cannon  were  there,"  etc.  AVhoever  first  suggested  the  expe- 
dition, it  was  now  accomiilished,  and  the  arms  were  soon 
on  their  way  to  the  Colonial   authorities;  a  portion  of  the 

1,  Pec  Col.  of  Conn.  Historical  Society,  Vol.  I,  p.  18J. 

2.  Hall's  History  of  Vermont,  p.  lO'.t. 

;t.  i^ee  "  Origin  of  Expedition  ngain.>!t  TiconderoRa  in  1775."  A  paper  read  before 
the  Conn.  His.  Society,  by  J.  H.  Trumbull,  Jan'y,  18CJ.  "  The  proposition  came  from 
Benedict  Arnold,  itc." 


"% 


i.'; 


HIS   TATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


43 


iirtillory  and  other  stores  reaching  the  campof  AVashliigton 

at  Cambridge,  suj)plying  tlie  arms  and  ammunition  which 

he  so  greatly  needed. 

Immediately  after  the  capture,  Arnold  commenced  the 

construction  of  boats  for  the  trans;portation  of  the  captured 

arms.' 

These  expeditions  were  none  too  quick,  for  soon  after 
Arnold's  ca])tnre  of  St.  Jolins,  a  reinforcement  of  nu>re 
than  four  hundred  British  and  Canadians  arrived  at  that 
])lace,  and  it  was  rumored  tliat  an  expedition  would  ])roceed 
up  the  lakes  to  re-take  the  forts.  Arnold  having  had  some 
experience  in  seamanship,  collected  the  vessels  he  had  taken 
anil  prepared  to  meet  the  enemy.  The  schooner  captured 
from  Major  Skene,  the  King's  sloop,  and  a  flotilla  of  bat- 
teaux  were  armed,  and,  his  force  having  been  increased  to 
one  hundred  and  iifty  men,  he  made  vigorous  preparations 
to  repel  any  attack  which  might  be  made. 

On  the  lirst  of  .Tune  the  Congress  of  ]\[as&achusetts  ad- 
dressed him  a  letter,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  letters 
from  him  dated  the  10th  and  23d  of  May,  and  express 
"great  satisl'action  in  the  acquisitions  you  have  made,'' 
■^-  *  and  assure  him  that  they  place  the  greatest  confi- 
dence in  his  fidelity,  knowledge  and  good  conduct,  and  they 
desire  hiui  to  dismiss  the  thought  of  quitting  his  important 
command  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown  I'uint  and  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  adding,  "You  are  hereby  re(juested  to  continue  your 
command  over  the  forces  raised  by  this  colony."" 

1.  Sec  Notes  to  the  History  of  Fort  George,  by  B.  F.  PcCosta. 

2.  See  MSS.  from  Mussaeliusetts  Archives,  quoted  in  DeCosta's  Notes  to  History 
of  Fort  George,  p.  10.    Al.so,  Am.  Arcliives,  177.">,  p.  I;i82,  us  follows  : 

"CoLLoNY  OF  Massachusetts  I$av, 
Watkutow.v,  June  1. 1775. 
"  Mr. -This  coriKrcss  have  Received  yours  of  19  &  '2:i(l  May  ult.  a  copy  of  which 
has  been  sent  to  N.  Hampshire,  and  Capt.  Urown  and  Capt.  Phelps  they  hiphly  ap- 
lirove  of  and  t;ike  great  satisfaction  in  the  acquisitions  you  have  made  at  Ticonde- 
roga, Crown  Point,  on  The  Lake,  etc. ;  as  to  the  state  you  arc  in  respecting  your  Pro- 
vision, etc.  we  have  advices  from  Couaecticut  and  New  York  tliat  ample  prepara- 


i 


44 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    AKXOLD. 


lie  .-cut  mcssoneors  into  Canadji  for  tlic  pnrjwrso  of  learn  inir 
the  feflin,i?s  of  the  Canadians  and  the  designs  of  the  Indians. 
IFe  also  wrote  to  the  Continental  (^on<i^ress,  coniinunieatini^ 
all  the  facts  he  ha<l  thus  ascertained,  and  expressing  the  con- 
viction that  it  vvouhl  not  he  difficult  to  take  possession  of  all 
Canada,  and  detailing  a  plan  of  operations  for  that  purpose, 
and.  ottering  to  lead  the  expedition  and  he  responsihle  for 
the  result.'  Meanwhile  his  enemies  had  heen  writing:  to 
!\rassacliusetts,  exaggerating  liis  faults,  and,  as  Sparks  says, 
"his  zeal  and  energy  were  passed  over  unnoticed."  The 
Legislature  or  Congress  (so-called)  of  Massachusetts,  dele- 
gated three  of  their  nuuiher  to  go  to  Lake  Champlain  and 
inquire  into  the  "  spirit,  capacity  and  conduct "  *  of  Colonel 
Arnold,  and  were  authorized,  if  they  thought  ])roper,  to  order 
his  immediate  return  to  Massachusetts  to  render  an  account 
of  the  money,  ammunition  and  stores  he  had  i-eceived,  etc. 
"If  he  remained  he  was  to  l)e  suhordiuate  to  Colonel  llin- 
man,"  an  officer  that  Connecticut  had  sent  forward  to  take 
the  command. 

Tliey  found  Arnold  at  Crown  Point,  actively  employed  in 
preparing  to  defeiul  the  conquests  which  had  heen  made,  and 
maturing  plans  for  future  action.  When  they  hiid  heforo 
liim  their  instructions,  he  was  exceedingly  indignant,  and 
complained  of  heing  treated  Avith  injustice  and  disrespect; 
"in  which,''  says  Mr.  Sparks,  "he  was  not  entirely  in  the 
Avrong."  Silas  Deane,  a  memherof  Congress  from  Connec- 
tions is  malclng  with  the  Greatest  Dispatch  in  those  two  collonies  from  whence  you 
inny  Depend  on  being  seasonably  supplied  —they  are  Sorry  to  meet  with  Keiieated 
Uequests  from  you  that  some  Gentleman  be  sent  to  succeed  you  in  command ;  they 
assure  you  that  tliey  place  the  Greatest  Confidence  in  your  Fidelity,  Knowledge, 
(.'o.  rn^icand  (iood  Conduct,  and  they  Desire  that  you  at  present  Dismiss  the  Thought 
of  Quiting  Your  Iraportant  Comnumd  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown  I'oint  Lake  ( lu.ni- 
plain,  etc.,  and  you  are  hereby  re<iuested  to  continue  your  command  over  the  forces 
raised  by  this  Colony  Posted  at  thos  ;  several  Places,  at  least  until  the  <  ollony  of 
New  York  or  Connecticut  shall  take  on  them  the  maintaining  and  commanding 
the  same  agreeable  to  an  order  of  Continental  Congress."— J/SS.  in  Mass.  Archivca. 

1.  See  Sparks'  Life  of  Arnold,  pp.  21-27. 

2.  See  Sparks'  Life  of  .\rnold,  p.  22. 


niS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


45 


,'0(1  in 
',  and 
jet'oru 
it,  and 
-pec't; 
in  the 
onnec- 

CDCO  you 
Kepcfttt'd 
ml;  tlioy 
owleilpc, 
TliouglU 
vC  ( lii.m- 
lic  forces 
illoiiy  of 
mandins 
:hivca. 


ticiit,  writing  from  Cuml)ridgc,  Ang.  10th,  1775,  was  more 
explicit:  "Colonel  Arnold  has  been  in  my  opinion  hardly 
treated  hy  this  colony,  throngh  some  mistake  or  other.  *  * 
lie  has  deserved  much  and  received  little  or  less  than 
nothing."' 

Arnold  wrote  a  formal  letter  of  resignation  and  dis- 
charged tlie  men  he  had  enlisted,  and  hastened  back  to 
Cambi'ldgt,',  arriving  in  July.  Barnabas  Deane,  writing  on 
the  first  of  June  from  near  Ticonderoga,  to  his  brother,  Silas 
Doane,  then  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  says  : 

"  Col.  Arnold  has  been  greatly  abused  and  misrepresented  by  design- 
ing persons,  some  of  whom  were  from  Connecticut.  Had  it  not  been  for 
him  everything  here  would  have  been  in  the  utmost  confusion  and  dis- 
order; people  would  have  been  plundered  of  their  private  property,  and 
no  njiin's  person  would  have  been  safe  that  was  not  of  the  (Jroen  Moun- 
tain party.  *  *  Col.  Arnold  lias  bei.'n  twice  fired  at  by  them,  and  has 
had  a  musket  presented  a"^  hia  breast  by  one  of  that  party,  who  threat- 
ened to  tin;  liim  through  if  he  refused  to  comply  with  their  orders;  which 
he  very  resolutely  refused  doing,  as  inconsistent  with  his  duty  and  directly 
contrary  to  the  opinion  of  the  colonies  *  *  *  (^'q1,  'Webb  and  myself 
had  an  arduous  task  to  reconcile  nuitters  between  the  two  commanders 
at  Crown  Point,  whicli  1  hope  is  settled  for  the  present."  '■' 

As  corroborating  the  foregoing  statement,  a  large  num- 
ber of  iidiubitants  prepared  and  ])resented  to  Arnold  a 
memorial,  expressing  their  gratitude  for  the  great  services 
he  had  rendered  them  and  the  colonies.' 

Looking  back  calmly  at  these  events  and  the  differences 
between  Arnold  and  Allen,  and  Arnold  and  the  Connecticut 
committee,  we  jierceive  that  they  origimited  to  a  consider- 
able extent  in  the  local  jealousies  of  the  different  colonies. 
It  must  be  conceded  that  Arnold  had  tlie  best  legal  author- 
ity to  command,  but  he  was  compelled  to,  and  did  yield  to 
Allen's  popularity  with  the  "  Green  Mountain  Boys."  He 
was  decided,  perhaps  nnconciliatory,  and  it  may  be,  arro- 

I.    I.osslng's  Life  of  Schuyler,  Vol.  I,  p.  3S6, 
•.;.    See  Col.  of  Conn.  His.  Society,  Vol.  II,  p.  '.'47. 
:t.    Am.  Archives,  p.  1770. 


I 


4G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


gant  in  }\sscrtiti<j^  his  nutliorlty  ;  possibly  tliorc  nnvy  have 
been  faults  iiiso  of  manner  on  tho  part  of  Allen.  He  was 
a  rough  diamond,  aiul  imt  famed  for  courtesy  or  subordiiui- 
tion.  After  Allen's  nnt'ortunate  dash  at  ^[ontreal,  in  wliieh 
lie  and  his  men  M'ero  ca]ttured,  (Jeneral  Schuyler  wrote:  "I 
always  dreaded  his  impatience  of  subordination." 

AVashington,  also,  speaking  of  Allen,  says  :  ''His  mis- 
fortunes will,  I  hope,  teach  a  lesson  of  prudence  and  subor- 
dination to  others  who  may  be  ambitious  to  outshine  their 
general  officers,  and,  regardless  of  order  and  duty,  rush  into 
(Miterprises  which  have  unfavorable  eft'ects  on  tho  public.'" 
AVhatevcr  may  have  been  the  faults  of  Arnold,  none  sur- 
passed liim  at  that  time  in  zeal,  activity  and  dai-iiig.  lie 
went  into  Ticonderoga  by  the  side  of  Allen;  he  surprised 
and  captured  St.  Johns  and  the  king's  ship  and  battcaux. 
The  appearance  at  Crown  Point  of  tho  Massachusetts  com- 
mittee, in  the  midst  of  his  zealous  labors  and  triumphs,  to 
inquire  into  "his  spirit,  capacity  and  conduct,"  and  with 
power  to  order  his  immediate  return,  to  a  sensitive  soldier 
was  as  great  an  indignity  as  one  can  easily  conceive.  This 
was  the  lirst  of  a  series  of  acts  of  injustice  which  resulted  in 
his  '  ^usable  crime.  Had  AVashington  possessed  *he 
^  ■.    appointing  and   promoting  the   officers    of  his 

,  from  the  beginning  to  the  conclusion  of  tho  war, 
.mold's  treason  would  never  have  been  committed. 
On  the  contrary,  as  a  fighting  general,  for  active  service, 
he  would  have  been  the  right  arm  of  Washington.  As 
it  was,  his  honor  as  a  soldier  was  severely  wounded. 
AV^hen  every  British  post  on  the  New  York  lakes  had  been 
captured,  none  without  his  zealous  co-operation,  others  bj' 
his  own  skill,  daring  and  good  conduct;  in  the  midst  of  his 
success,  while  zealously  planning  the  capture  of  Canada,  he 
was  superseded  and  compelled  to  return  under  a  cloud  to 

1.    Sec  Irvins's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  II,  r'P.  39ii-7. 


'jfl' 


Ills    TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


4; 


lie  snr- 
c..     lie 
.rpriscd 
vtteanx. 
ts  com- 
iplis,  to 
(I  with 
soldier 
Tliis 
lUod  ill 
a\  *lie 
of  liis 
\o  war, 
111  1.  ted. 
service, 
1.     As 
iinded. 
id  been 
lers  by 
t  of  his 
ada,  he 
uud  to 


Caiiibrldji;o,  but  fortutuitely  lie  soon  afterwards  met  AVasli- 
in<»'tt)n  and  secured  his  confi(k'n('e  and  friendship;  and  from 
that  time  on,  until  his  fatal  fall,  the  Coniniander-in-cliief 
was  his  steadfast  friend. 

On  the  l!»tli  of  June,  and  before  Colonel  Arnold's  return 
frniii  his  oanipaiirn,  his  wife  died,  ai^ed  thirty  years.  Thus 
to  the  sense  of  bitter  inju;itice  was  added  this  crushing  do- 
mestic aiiliction. 

"  In  tliP  northeast  coiTior  of  the  new  cemetery  of  Now  Haven  is  a  dark 
stone,  neatly  oai'vcd,  with  an  ornamental  border,  'Siicreil  to  tho  uieni- 
ory  of  Miirjfaret  ArnoUl,  tlie  first  wife  of  Benedict  Arnold.'  "  ' 

His  sister  Hannah  took  tho  place  of  his  wife,  and  well 
discharged  the  duties  of  mother  to  his  chiMren.  Three 
sons,  aged  seven,  six  and  three,  constituted  her  charge. 

"With  a  touclnng  and  devoted  affection,  honorable  alike 
to  herself  and  to  her  brother,  she  writes  to  him  of  these 
children;  of  "  Jjcn,"  the  eldest,  "already  eager,"  as  she 
says,  "  to  hear  everything  relating  to  his  ]»aj)a."  " 

Conirratulatinir  liiin  on  his  "success  in  reduciii'' Tvcon- 
deroga,"  and  making  himself  "master  of  tlie  vessels  on  the 
lakes;"  and  as  "the  cause  is  undoubtedly  a  just  one,"  she 
hopes  he  ma-  have  health,  strength,  fortitude  and  valor  for 
whatever  he  "maybe  called  to;"  and  then  she  devoutly 
])rays:  "  ]\Iay  the  broad  hand  of  the  Almighty  overshadow 
you;  and  if  called  to  battle,  may  tlu;  (idd  of  armies  cover 
vour  head  in  the  day  of  it." 

1.  Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the  RcvoluUm,  Vol.  I,  p.  420. 

2.  Tho  following  is  the  text  of  this  beautiful  iL'tter,  coi)ie(l  by  the  nntlior  from 
tho  original,  lu  possession  of  Miss  Variclc,  of  New  York  city  : 

"  N.  nAVF.y,  Jutie,  ITT"). 
"Dear  Buotiiek; 

"  Tuke  this  oiiportuiiity  pr.  Capt.  OswaM,  t.ooonprntuhito  you  on  yourlatc  surcess 
in  rcilucins  Ticomiero'jia,  and  making  yourself  master  of  the  vessells  on  tlie  lakes. 
Sincerely  wish  all  your  future  endeavors  to  serve  your  country  may  be  crowned 
with  etpial  success.  I'ity  the  latiiine  you  must  unavoidably  .iufTer  in  the  wilder- 
ness, lint  as  the  cause  is  undoubtedly  a  just  one,  hope  you  may  have  health, 
streiiiilh.  fortittide  and  valor,  for  w  hatevcr  you  nu\y  be  called  to.  May  the  broad 
hand  of  (he  Almighty  overshadow  you ;  and  if  call  d  to  battle,  may  the  God  of  Armies 


^*^ 


II 

1 

iM 

L 

Ml 

48 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   AKXOLD. 


Then  addiiii^:  "Tlic  men  who  went  iindor  your  care  to 
Boston  give  you  the  praise  of  a  very  liuinane  and  tender 
officer;"  slieliopes  "those  now  with  you  may  meet  with  an 
equal  degree  of  tend^  ess  and  humanity.  I  doubt  it  not," 
says  she,  "  for  the  truly  brave  are  ever  liumane."  All  who 
read  the  letter  will  concur  in  the  declaration,  that  few  sol- 
diers in  modern  times,  few  knights  in  the  days  of  chivalry, 
ever  went  forth  to  battle  borne  up  by  a  more  holy  or  a  more 
tender  praj  er  than  that  uttered  in  this  letter  by  his  devoted 
sister. 

It  was  on  Colonel  Arnold's  return  to  Cambridge  that 
"Washington,  more  just  than  the  Massachusetts  committee, 
selected  him  to  command  one  of  the  most  difficult  and  per- 
ilous enterprises  ever  undertaken  on  the  Ainerican  conti- 
nent— the  expedition  to  Quebec;  and  it  is  not  too  much  to 
say  that  his  march  throuiih  the  wilderness  was  conducted 
with  an  ability  and  fortitude  ranjly  if  ever  sur})assed. 

cover  your  head  in  the  <hiy  of  it.  'Tis  to  Hir.i  and  Uim  only,  my  dear  brother,  that 
we  oiiii  look  for  safety  or  success,  lli.s  power  is  ever  nlile  to  shield  us  from  ilie  pes- 
tilence that  walks  in  darkness,  ami  tli'  iirrows  that  fly  by  noonday.  May  a  Chris- 
tian resignation  to  Uis  will  strengthen  your  hands  and  fortify  your  heart.  May  you 
seek  His  aid  and  rest  your  whole  confidence  in  Uim;  and  then  you  ^^ ill  have  no 
fear  but  that  of  otlending  Uim  ;  and  if  we  are  to  meet  no  more  in  time,  nmy  a  wise 
preparation  for  eternity  .secure  to  us  a  liajipy  meeting  in  the  realms  of  bliss,  where 
iniinful  separations  are  forever  excluded.  The  men  who  went  under  your  cure  to 
Uoston,  give  you  the  i>rai  es  of  a  very  humane,  tender  oHiccr.  Hope  those  now 
with  you  may  meet  with  an  eijual  degree  of  teiu'.rness  and  humanity. 

"  Your  little  family  arc  all  well.  l!encdi( '  is  eager  to  hear  everything  relative  to 
his  papa.  I*Ir.  Mansfiehl,  contrary  to  all  expectation,  is  again  able  to  ride  out ;  and 
his  physicians  think  ho  is  in  a  fair  way  of  recovering  a  comfortable  state  of  health. 
Mr.  ihirrison.you  have  undoubtedly  heard,  is  dead  by  a  fit  of  the  apoiilexy.  We  have 
numbers  of  people  daily  coming  here  from  New  York  and  ISuston.  Capt  Sours,  and 
Mrs.  lirown  and  I'latt,  with  several  other  families  from  York,  are  now  here.  The 
w<prld  seems  a  luiiversal  flutterand  hurry.  Whatthe  event  will  bo  God  only  knows. 
Uut  in  all  its  changes,  of  this  I  am  eeriaiii;  that  your  health  and  prosperity  are 

dear  to  me  as  my  own. 

"  Your  aflFectioiude  Sister, 

"  Hannah  Arnold." 


care  to 
i  tender 
with  an 
it  not," 
fVll  who 
few  sol- 
jhivahy, 
r  a  more 
I  devoted 

[lo;o  that 
ininittee, 
and  per- 
in  conti- 
niueh  to 
onducted 
sed. 

)r()tlier,  that 
'niiu  {hti  pes- 
,lay  a  Chris- 
t.  May  you 
,s  ill  Lave  no 
;,  may  a  wise 
bliss,  where 
your  care  to 
those  now 

b  relative  to 
[lie out;  and 
Ite  of  health. 
ly.  We  have 
[t  Sours,  and 
here.  The 
|(inly  knows, 
osperity  are 

lUXOLD." 


CHAPTER  III. 

EXrEDITION  TO  QUEBEC. 

"Qui  Transtulit  Sustinct." 
E-tPEDiTioN  TO  QrKnnc  and  M.\rcu  rnnouun  the  Wii.pehnfss— Arnold  T'norosrs 

THE    KXIKIHTKlN    To  W.\SinN(;TON— W.\SHINl;T()N    ArPUOVES,    AND    SELECTS  FOR 

IT  THE  "  I'lcKED  Men"  of  his  Army,  and  gives  the  Com.mand  to  Arnold— 
TiiEiii  Difficulties,  .*^iffi  rings  and  Dan(;ers-Enos  gkts  Frightened  and 
Abandiins  his  Comrades— Arnold,  with  :M.iRoan,  1'usiif..s  on— I'ruvision.s 
KxiiAisn  i)-Ai;NnLD  with  MX  Men  makes  a  Forced  March  to  the  Canadian 

t^ETILL.MENTS,   UDTAIN.S    FooD,  AND  SAVES    THE   DLTACHMEN  f.  (1) 

QuKUKo  has  been  called,  perhaps  with  some  exaggeration, 
tlie  'Kiibraltar  of  America."'  JSeated  on  its  rocky  clitfs, 
overlooking  .''nd  commanding  the  St.  Lawrence,  both  France 
and  Enghmd  had  ever  regai'ded  it  as  the  stronghold  of  the 
CAnadas,  and  the  aid  of  art  had  been  bronght  to  add  to  its 
great  natural  strength.  After  the  capture  of  the  forts  on 
lakes  George  and  Cham])lain,  the  project  of  obtaining  mil- 
itarv  possession  of  Cainida,  with  a  view  of  uniting  the 
whole  continent  in  opposition  to  the  power  of  Great 
Hritain,  had,  as  we  have  seen,  been  presented  to  Congress 
bv  Arnold  and  others. 

When  AVashington  reached  Cambridge  and  assumed  com- 
mand, on  the  3d  of  July,  1775,  he  had  already  favorably 

1.  Tlie  details  of  this  expedition  are  ernthored  from  the  letters  and  jnuriial  of 
Aniiild.  .'^oe  colk'i'tioiis  of  Maine  Historical  Soeiety,  Vol.  I,  p.  44t'>,  Also  niann- 
-1  ript  jduriinl  of  Arnold  in  possession  of  Mr.  Harlow,  of  New  York,  the  journals  (  f 
-Miijor  .Meifis,  .ludsre  Henry,  Messrs.  Thayer,  Senter  and  others,  who  were  in  the  cxpe- 
d'Mon  and  ki'i>t  jnuriials.  Also  Spark's  Life  of  Hcnodlet  Arnold,  Losaing's  Field 
Book  of  the  Uevulufion,  and  Force's  American  Archives. 

<l  (40) 


III! 


50 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


considered  the  project,  was  in  correspondence  with  Schuy- 
ler on  the  subject,  and  Schuyler  had  been  selected  to  lead 
an  army  into  Canada  l)y  way  of  the  Xorthern  lakes.  It 
was  now  proposed  by  Arnold  that  an  expedition  shotild 
march  by  way  of  the  Kennebec  river,  through  the  wilder- 
ness over  the  mountains  of  Maine  to  Quebec,  to  capture 
that  city  by  surprise,  and  thus  co-o]    rate  with  Schuyler. 

The  ])lan  of  reachiiiii^  (Quebec  by  iiis  nnite  is  said  in  the 
introduction  to  Thayer's  Journal,  edited  by  Stone,'  to  have 
originated  with  Arnold,  and  to  ha\e  been  sug-gested  to 
him  by  reading  the  Journal,  written  in  1700,  of  Colonel 
^fontresor,  an  otiicer  of  the  British  Engineer  Service. 
After  careful  study,  and  several  conferences  with  Arnold, 
"Washington  heai-tily  adopted  the  project.  It  was  a  most 
hazardous  enterprise,  full  of  difficulties  and  dangers,  hnown 
and  unknown,  but  if  snccessful  would  realize  results  of  the 
utmost  importance.''  Washington  fully  appreciated  its  dif- 
Hculties,  and  there  is  a  tone  of  gravity  approaching  to  sol- 
emnity in  his  lettei"  of  instructions  to  Arnold.  "You  are 
entrusted  with  a  comm.'ind,''  writes  he,  "of  the  utmost  con- 
sequence to  the  liberties  of  America;  on  your  conduct  and 
('(Uirage  and  that  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  detached  (tn 
this  expedition,  not  only  the  success  of  your  present  enter- 
])rise  and  your  own  honor,  but  the  safety  and  welfare  of  the 
■whole  country  may  depend."  ' 

Conscious  of  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered,  he  selected 
the  best  material  in  his  army  for  the  expedition.  The  field 
officers  M-ere  Lieutenant  Colonels  Christoplier  (rreen,  of 
llhode  Island,  and  lioger  Enos,  of  Connecticut;  Majors 

1.    Sec  UitrochicUon  to  Thayer's  JiHirnal  of  the  Expcilitiou  to  Quebec. 

'_'.  "  The  proposed  exposition  wns  wild  luid  i)eriloiis,  and  re<niirod  a  luirdy,  skill- 
ful luirt  intrepid  leader.  Such  a  one  was  nt  hand.  Washington  considered  him 
(.\rnold)  the  very  man  for  the  enterprise."— 7n'i»</'8  Life  of  Wiwhiixjton   Vol.  2,  p.  01. 

;i.  Thes-o  carefully  written  iMstruclions,  and  nn  address  to  the  people  of  Can- 
atla,  Washington  proparecl  at  his  liea'lquarters,  now  the  residence  of  the  poet 
Longfellow. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AXD    HIS   TREASON. 


51 


I  Scliuy- 
[  to  lead 
.kes.     It 
1  sliotil*! 
e  Avildei'- 
Ciiptiirt' 
nivk'i'. 
lid  in  the 
,'  to  have 
[^•ested  to 
f  Colonel 
Service. 
li  Arnold, 
IS  a  most 
rs,  known 
dts  of  the 
ed  its  dit- 
<f  to  sol- 
You  are 
most  con- 
liu't  and 
lehed  «»n 
nt  enter- 
irc  of  the 

e  selected 
The  field 
ii'een,  of 
;  .Majors 


,  hardy,  skiU- 
isiilorcd  him 

Vol. '1.  P.M. 
ople  of  Cnii- 

of  the  poet 


■Return  J.  ^lei^s,  of  Connecticut,  and  Timothy  Bigelow, 
of  ^rassachnsetts.  Among  the  captains  was  the  celebrated 
Daniel  M(iri;an,  the  famous  rifleman  of  Virginia, 

Aaron  ]>urr,  afterwards  A'ice  Trcsident  of  the  United 
States,  ]\rathew  Ogdcn,  and  some  other  young  men,  eager 
for  adventure,  joined  the  expedition  as  V(jlunteer.s. 

That  Arnold  suggested  this  expedition  to  AV'ashington 
appears  from  a  letter  of  Gates,  then  adjuvant-general  of  the 
force  at  Cambridge,  dated  Aug.  25th,  1775,  in  which  he 
says:  "  I  am  directed  by  his  Excellency,  General  Wash- 
ington, to  request  you  to  await  the  rctiwii  of  the  express 
(sent  to  Gen.  Schuyler).  I  have  laid  your  ])lan  before  the 
(leneral,  who  will  converse  M'ith  you  upon  it  when  you  next 

meet." ' 

The  detachment  consisted  in  all  of  eleven  hundred  men — 
ten  companies  of  musketnien  and  three  of  riliemen.  These 
riflemen  were  from  the  mountains  of  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania; men  of  whom  Daniel  ]3oone  and  David  Crocket 
were  examples;  hunters  and  Indian  fighters,  familiar  with 
woodcraft,  the  rifle,  the  hunting-knife  and  the  birch-bark 
canoe;  men  who  could  endure  hunger,  exposure  and 
fatigue;  who  knew  how  to  find  subsistence  and  shelter  in 
the  forests;  Avho  could  supply  themselves  with  food  from 
tlie  deer,  the  bear  and  other  wild  i;aine,  and  from  fish  from 
the  rivers  and  lakes;  men  with  some  of  the  sagacity,  reso- 
lution and  fertility  of  resource  which  Coo])er  has  ascribed 

1.    The  following  is  Uie  Utter : 

IlKAD  Qr.vitTr.i'.-t,  2"ith  Autr.,  177'.. 

Sir:  I  urn  confldeiit  yoti  tohl  mc  la<!t  nijiht  tluit  ymi  did  not  iiiteiid  lo  loiivc  <'iiin- 
liriilKO  until  Uw.  express  stnt  by  your  friend  rciurned  from  Oeuerrtl  Srliiiylcr. 
].i"it  1  slionld  he  niistiilcen,  I  nm  direeted  by  his  Exeelleiiey,  (ienerid  Wasliinj^'ton,  to 
rei]iiest  you  to  wiiit  tlie  return  of  that  express.  I  have  laid  your  plans  before  tlie 
•  ifiurnl.  wlio  will  converse  with  you  upon  it  when  you  next  meet.  Your  answer 
I'V  tlic  bearer  will  obliKe,  sir, 

Your  nfTectionatc  and  humble  Servant. 

Hor.ATio  Gatfs,  Adj't  General. 
Tu  Cul.  Arnold,  at  Watertown. 

Ilislorical  Magazine,  Dec.  1857.  Vol.  1,    Xo.  12,  p.  372. 


'  li 

i 

H 

;i    ! 

.,|! 

52 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


to  the  Leatlierstoclving,  equally  at  liome  on  the  trail  of  an 
Indian  or  the  track  of  a  wild  beast — the  picked  men  of  the 
Colonies,  Henry  says/  "All  these  men  were  of  as  rude  and 
hardy  a  race  as  ourselves,  and  as  unused  to  the  discipline  of 
a  camp,  and  as  fearless  as  we," 

Many  of  them  were  men  of  substance,  well-to-do  farmers, 
men  of  pride  of  character,  zealous  but  independent,  and 
with  crude  ideas  of  military  discipline.  It  is  obvious  that 
no  ordinary  man  could  lead  through  imknown  difficulties 
and  dangers  such  a  body.  They  could  be  controlled  only 
by  the  ])ersonal  qualities  of  their  leader.  lie  must  be  one 
wliose  character  would  compel  their  respect.  He  should  be 
as  bold,  fis  manly,  as  ])lucl\;y  as  the  best  of  them,  and  they 
must  believe  he  was  their  superior  in  skill  and  judgment. 
He  should  be  a  natural  leader  of  men,  and  possess  not  only 
courage  and  capacity,  but  he  should  be  able  to  inspire  his 
men  with  confidence  in  his  courage  and  ability.  AVashing- 
ton  believed  Benedict  Arnold  to  be  such  a  man.  This  is 
proved  not  only  by  his  selection  to  command  this  most" 
hazardous  expedition,  but  also  from  AVashington's  letters. 

The  three  compunies  of  riflemen  were  especially  regarded 
as  embodying  the  best  material  for  the  hard  work  expected 
of  them.  AV'ith  Morgan's  company  from  Virginia  were 
associated  a  company  from  Cumberland,  Pennsylvania, 
commanded  by  Captain  "William  Hendricks,  and  another 
from  Lancaster,  in  the  same  State,  commanded  by  Ca])tain 
Matthew  Smith.  "They  were  an  excellent  body  of  men, 
rude,  hardy  and  fearless,  *  *  formed  by  nature  to  be  the 
stamina  of  an  army,  iit  for  tough,  tight  work,"" 

The  riflemen,  armed  with  a  good  rifle,  a  tomahawk,  a 
long  knife,  a  small  axe,  and  dressed  in  a  hunting  shirt, 
moccasins  and  leggings,  all  of  deer  skin.     This  little  army 


1.  ITenry's  Jonrnni  (MuuceU),  p.  XI. 

2.  Heury's  Jourual. 


It 


HIS    TATRIOTISM    AND   HLS   TREASON. 


53 


started  from  Prospect  Hill,  near  Cambridge,  Massaclinsetta, 
on  tlic  llth  of  !Sept.  1775,  and  on  tlie  next  day  readied 
Xewbnryport.  From  there  the  detachment  embarked  in 
ten  transports  for  tlie  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  river,  where, 
leaving  the  vessels,  they  were  to  go  in  batteaux,  which 
Arnold  had  caused  to  be  built,  and  thence  proceed  up  the 
Kennebec  to  Fort  Western,  in  ^[aine,  opposite  the  ])resent 
town  of  Augusta,  at  which  place  the}'-  arrived  on  the  2;>d 
of  So])tomber. 

All  the  information  Arnold  could  obi  n  of  the  route, 
was  what  he  could  glean  from  the  meagre  journal  of  Mon- 
tresor,  win*  had  passed  from  ^'raiada  to  the  Kenebec  fifteen 
years  before,  some  facts  gathered  from  aparty  of  St.  Francis 
Indians,  who  had  lately  visited  the  camp  of  Washington, 
and  a  rude  and  imperfect  map  made  by  a  surveyor  of  the 
Kennebec. 

The  route  selected  as  the  most  feasible  was  to  ascend  the 
Kennebec  to  what  was  called  the  great  carrying  place,  be- 
tween it  and  the  Dead  river;  then  turning  west,  surmount 
the  carrying  place;  thence  on  over  the  extreme  summit  which 
divides  tlie  waters  of  New  England  from  those  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.  Crossing  this,  they  hoped  and  expected  to  strike 
the  head-waters  of  the  Chaudiere,  and  from  thence  descend 
to  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Quebec.  AVith  his  very  limited 
knowledge  of  the  country  and  the  route,  the  commander 
deemed  it  prudent  to  send  forward  a  small  exploring  party 
in  a<lvance,  who  were  expected  to  move  with  the  utmost 
rapidity  in  bark  canoes,  to  ascertain  the  obstacles  and  dan- 
gers, and  explore  and  mark  the  best  route.  This  party  had 
instructions  to  go  as  far  as  Lake  ^[agentic,  or  Chaudiere 
])ond — the  source  or  head-waters  of  the  river  of  that  name. 
Another  pioneer  party  was  sent  to  explore  and  survey  the 
courses  and  distances  of  Dead  river.  Colonel  Arnold  se- 
lected Archibald  Steele,  a  bold,  active,  hardy  and  resolute 


54 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD, 


i: 


young  soldier,  to  command  the  first  party,  and  the  result 
showed  the  selection  to  liavc  been  most  judicious.  His 
hardihood,  resolution  and  readv  skill  carried  him  through, 
and  eiuibled  him  to  overcome  the  most  formidable  difficul- 
ties. l*erhaiis  a  brief  recital  of  the  adventures  of  this  pio- 
neer party  will  give  as  clear  an  idea  of  the  obstacles  and 
dangers  which  Arnold  and  his  comnuuid  encountered,  as 
could  be  conveyed  by  any  other  means. 

Steele  selected  for  one  of  his  companions  John  Joseph 
Henry,  not  then  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  he  has  left  a 
narrative,  which,  though  written  late  in  life,  and  from 
memory,  yet  gives  a  most  graphic  and  interesting  sketch 
of  their  adventures. 

Starting  from  Fort  "Western,  on  the  23d  of  September,  in 
birch-hark  canoes,  the  party  passed  on  rapidly  to  Fort 
Halifax,  and  thence  to  Skouhegan  Falls,  four  miles  east  of 
the  viHaire  of  Xorridirewack.  Here  thev  met  the  first 
])ortage  or  carrying  place  around  the  rapids,  and  by  hlazin(j 
the  trees  marked  the  route  of  those  who  were  to  follow. 

"Here,"  writes  Henry,  "the  moose  deer  reigns  master 
of  the  forest,"^  and  "monarch  of  the  glen." 

They  ascended  the  river  rapidly,  hlazlruj  the  trees  at 
every  carrying  place.  Leaving  the  last  habitation  of  the 
white  man  at  jS'orridgcwack,  the  party  passed  on  into  the 
wilderness.  Having  passed  many  falls,  rapids  and  carrying 
places,  on  the  29th  of  September  they  arrived  at  the  great 
carrying  place,  distant  about  sixt}^  miles  from  Skouhegan. 
The  distance  across  the  portage  to  Dead  river  was  twelve 
miles,  but  there  were  three  or  four  ponds  which  could  be 
used  to  lessen  the  land  carriage.  Steele's  party,  leaving 
the  Kennebec,  struck  out  towards  Dead  river,  and  at  even- 
ing encamped  on  the  margin  of  the  first  pond,  sleeping,  as 


1.    When  the  bull  moose  threw  up  their  heads,  the  tips  of  itielr  horns  seemed 
to  me  to  stand  eighteen  feel  from  tlie  ground.— //c?irj/'«  Journal,  p.  21, 


^ 


UIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TRKASOX. 


fJi> 


result 
.  His 
nnigh, 
lifficul- 
lis  pio- 
[e3  and 
ired,  as 

Joseph 
IS  left  a 
d  iVoiii 
J  sketch 

inher,  in 
to  Foi't 
,  east  of 
die  first 
\  Uart'uKj 

o\v. 

master 


W 


[i-ees  at 
of  the 
into  the 
carrying 
10  great 
uhegan. 
IS  twelve 
could  be 
',  leaving 
at  even- 
eping,  as 

lonis  seemed 


usual  when  on  shore,  on  the  brunclies  of  the  fir,  hemlock 
and  other  evergreens.  The  ground  across  this  carrying 
j)hu'e  was  nmgh,  rocky  and  rugged,  interspersed  with  bogs, 
in  wlildi  the  men  often  sunk  to  their  knees.  It  was  now- 
decided  by  Steele  to  divide  his  little  i>arty,  leaving  the 
weakest  and  half  the  provisions,  wliile  lie  pressed  forward 
with  the  strongest  and  most  enduring  of  his  men.  Two 
days  of  very  hard  work  brought  him  to  the  buidis  of  Dead 
I'iver. 

Pressing  on,  eacli  <hiy  meeting  new  dilKciilties,  their  i)ro- 
\  isions  grew  scant,  nnd  tiie  ])arty  put  themselves  on  short 
rations,  and  resolved  to  eat  their  ])ork  raw,  and  to  eat  but 
twice  each  day,  nKU'iiiug  and  evening.  "  Unaccpuunted  " 
says  Henry,  "with  the  distance  we  had  to  go,  without  ma]> 
or  chart,  yet  resolved  to  accomplish  our  orders  at  the  luv/- 
ard  of  our  lives;  a  half  a  biscuit,  and  half  an  inch  sipuire 
of  raw  ])ork  was  our  evening  meal.'' ' 

October  -Ith,  brought  the  ]iarty  to  the  deserted  wigwam 
of  Xatanis,  an  Indian  chief,  then  supposed  to  bo  in  the 
j)ay  of  the  English  as  a  spy,  but  who  with  a  jiartof  his  war- 
riors was  afterwards  induced  by  Arnold  to  join  the  expedi- 
tion, and  who  with  his  men  faithfully  accompanied  liim  to 
(»)uebec.  The  country  grew  more  and  more  rough  aiul  dif- 
ficult as  the  ])arty  advanced,  and  having  now  reached  nearly 
to  the  hi"'h  lands  dividiui;  the  waters  M'hich  flow  to  the 
Atlantic,  from  those  which  emi)ty  into  the  St.  Lawrence, 
the  weather  became  bitterly  cold,  and  snow  and  ice  added 
to  their  ditHculties.  The  lonely,  inhospitable  solitudes  of 
these  high  and  far-away  regions,  is  strikingly  illustrateil  by 
tliL"  fact,  that  in  l.boS  a  musket  wliieh  had  been  left  in  1775, 
ly  one  of  Arnold's  expedition,  was  first  discovered.  The  stock 
had  entirely  decayed,  and  the  mountings  and  barrel  had 
lallen  to  tlie  ground."     During  this  period  of  more  than 

1.    Henry's  Journnl  pp.  29,  31. 

'J.   Henry's  Juiiriiiil,  m  to  to  page  34. 


^  ';'! 


56 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


!      Bi 


§ 


eifflitv  vcars,  tlie  Colonies  had  become  a  ijreat  nation;  the 
pioneer  Jiad  penetrated  ever}''  bay  and  harbor  of  the  great 
western  hd<es,  and  crossinijj  tiie  Mississippi,  and  scaling  the 
rocky  monntains,  he  had  erected  his  settler's  cabin  along  the 
shores  of  the  Pacific;  the  far-off  Columbia  was  dotted  with 
his  towns  and  villages,  but  into  these  gloomy  solitudes  of 
Elaine,  during  all  this  time,  no  wanderer  had  gone! 

For  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century  the  adventur- 
ous step  of  no  man,  red  or  white,  had  trod  these  solitudes! 

At  length,  on  the  Tth  of  October,  the  party  of  Steele, 
weary  and  worn,  reached  the  end  of  their  explorations — the 
head-waters  of  the  Chaudiere.  Gathering  around  the  roots 
of  a  im\c,  which  rose  forty  feet  without  a  branch,  Steele 
asked  if  any  of  the  party  could  climb  it?'  liobert  Cun- 
ningham, an  athletic  younc:  soldier  twentv-five  rears  of  aire, 
instantly  began  the  ascent,  going  up  with  the  activity 
almost  of  a  squii'rel.  From  the  top  he  could  trace  far  away 
towards  the  north  the  nieanderings  of  the  river,  until  it 
expanded  into  Lake  Chaudiere,  fifteen  miles  distant. 
Elated  with  their  success,  the  party  turned  their  faces  back 
towards  their  comrades,  toiling  far  behind  in  the  depths  of 
the  forests.  Soon  overtaken  by  a  fierce  storm,  hungry, 
drenched  with  rain  atid  sleet,  they  attem])ted  to  shelter 
themselves  under  the  branches  of  the  evergreens,  and  they 
were  so  exhausted  they  "slept,  notwithstanding  the  pelting 

storm."  ^ 

"Ilumaging  my  pocket,"  says  Henry,  "I  found  a  soli- 
tary biscuit  and  an  inch  of  ])ork."  Far  from  their  com- 
panions, and  nearly  fainisliing,  where  were  they  to  obtain 
food  to  sustain  life?  They  made  all  possible  haste,  looking 
constantly  for  game,  and  finding  none  until  the  0th,  when 
they  fortunately  shot  a  small  duck  called  a  diver.  At 
night  Avhen   they   gathered   around  their  camp-fire,   they 

1.  Henry's  Journal,  pp.  M,  ;15. 

2.  Uunry's  Journal,  p  37. 


niS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


67 


)iv,  tlie 
0  great 
ing  the 
)ng  the 
ed  with 
udes  of 


lv(!ntnr- 
jli  tildes! 
f  Steele. 
3n8 — the 
the  root!> 
ih,  Steele 
)ert  Cun- 
rs  of  age, 

activity 
i'ar  away 
•,  until  it 

distant. 
\ices  back 
de])th3  of 

hungry, 
to  shelter 
,  and  they 
le  pelting 

nd  a  soli- 
leir  coni- 
to  obtain 
0,  looking 
9th,  when 
.liver.  At 
fire,   they 


anxiously  discussed  tlic  question  litiw  this  duck  and  their 
little  ])ittance  of  remaining  food  could  be  most  efl'ectually 
used  to  prolong  life.  They  decidetl  to  boil  the  duck  in 
their  camp  kettle,  each  niim  ])utting  in  his  last  bit  of  pork, 
and  each  marking  his  own  by  running  through  it  a  snndl 
wooden  skewer,  marked  with  his  own  ])rivate  mark.  Tlu> 
l)roth  so  made  was  to  be  all  the  bujjjK'r  tlie  poor  fellows  had, 
reserving  the  boiled  pork  for  breakfast,  and  the  duck  to  be 
divided  and  laid  by.  "  My  appetite,"  says  Henry,  "  was  as 
ravenous  as  a  wolf,"  but  the  resolution  to  take  no  nu)re 
than  the  broth  was  kejit.'  Ivisirig  early  the  next  morning, 
each  man  took  his  mouthful  of  ])ork,  and  breakfast  was 
<»vcr.  The  duck  was  then  sejiarated  into  ten  parts,  the 
mimber  of  the  party,  and  divided  in  the  hunter's  usual 
way — that  is,  one  of  the  party,  turning  his  back — and  then 
Steele  asked  of  the  man  whose  back  was  turned  to  the  frag- 
ments, "Whose  shall  this  be?"  The  man  answered,  nam- 
ing the  part}'.  Henry  says,  "my  share  of  the  duck  was 
one  of  the  thighs."  The  day  wore  away,  the  party  hasten- 
ing on,  the  duck  was  eaten,  and  the  party  encan)])ed  and 
tried,  when  night  overtook  them,  to  sleep,  liisiiig  the 
next  morning,  they  resumed  their  march  with  not  a  morsel 
of  food.  Traveling  all  the  weary  day,  they  lay  down  again 
su])])erless. 

The  next  day,  trying  to  hurry  on  with  all  the  little 
strength  left,  they  ran  their  canoe  against  a  partially  sunken 
tree,  and  the  frail  bark  was  torn  open  from  stem  to  ster?i. 
To  repair  this  by  finding  birch  trees,  stripping  off  the  bark, 
digging  cedar-roots  for  thread,  and  collecting  pitch  from 
the  pine,  delayed  them  some  hours,  and  now,  utterly  ex- 
liausted  with  hunger  and  fatigue,  and  at  an  unknown  dis- 
tance irom  the  main  party,  some  of  them  began  to  despair. 
Jlenry  says:     "  The  thought  came  that  the  Almighty  had 

I,    lienri''s  Journal,  pp.  37-38. 


i 


W 


m 


iT 


li* 


58 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


destiiit'd  us  to  die  of  hunirei'  in  tlie  wildonR'ss/'  Vcw  will 
rcproacli  the  boy  for  saYiii<f :  "  Tlic  tears  fell  from  my  eyes 
lis  I  thou^lit  of  my  motlier  iind  family  in  their  far-otf 
home."  But  tliegood  Father  who  does  not  siiller  the  spar- 
row to  fall  to  the  irround  unnoticed,  had  not  destined  this 
hapless  i^arty,  without  food  for  near  forty-eight  houis,  to 
perish  in  tliis  "wilderness,"  for  as  the  sun  went  down,  and 
llenry,  whose  struggling:  canoe  Ironi  sheer  exhaustion  lairged 
some  hniulred  yards  behind,  heard  the  sharp  crack  of  a 
rifle,  followed  by  a  shout  and  a  huzza,  and  pushing  forward, 
he  saw,  with  iiiexpressible  joy,  a  moose  deer  struggle  from 
the  water  and  fall  u]ion  the  baidc.  They  were  saved!  The 
forest  sliores  echoed  with  their  shouts  of  exultation,  as  the 
whole  ]^arty  gathered  around  the  game.  Kindling  a  fire, 
the  famishing  men  feasted.' 

On  the  17th  this  pioneer  ])arty  and  the  advaTice  of  the 
main  body  met,  and  they  were  welcomed,  as  brave  men 
welcome  comrades  who  have  esca]>ed  a  fearful  danger. 
]\[ore  than  three  weeks  had  passed  since  they  had  left  Fort 
Western, 

The  main  body  had  followed  as  soon  after  these  scouts  as 
possible,  moving  in  four  divisions,  one  day's  march  apart,  to 
avoid  coni'usion  in  passing  ra))ids  and  portages.  The  rifie- 
men,  with  ^Forgan  at  their  head,  in  advance;  then  came 
Green  and  JJigelow  with  three  companies,  followed  by 
Meigs  with  four,  and  then  Fnos  with  the  three  renuiining 
companies,  brought  up  the  rear. 

Arnold  remained  at  Fort  AVestern  to  see  all  embarked, 
and  then  in  a  last  birch-bark  canoe,  paddled  by  Indians,  \w. 
pushed  rapidly  forward,  and,  passing  each  ])arty,  overtook 
JMorgau  and  the  riflemen  at  Norridgewaek  falls.  Here, 
■just  below  the  falls,  more  than  half  a  century  before,  had 
been  the  site  of  an  Indian  village  of  the  tribe  for  which 

1.    Henry's  Journal,  p.  47. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASON. 


59 


i'ew  will 
my  t'viis 
•   iur-utf 
he  bjnir- 
iiL'd  this 
lours,  ti> 
)Wii,  aiitl 
mhiugt'd 
[ick  of  u 
forwiird, 
njlo  from 
(I!     The 
II,  us  thu 
ij;  a  lire, 

cc  of  the 

rave  men 

(liUii^er. 

left  Turt 

scouts  as 

apart,  to 

The  rifle- 

HMi  came 

owed   bv 

mainiiiii" 


III 


harked, 
iiians,  he 
u\crtook 
Here, 
fore,  liad 
or  which 


v. 

I 

i 


tlie  falls  were  named;  and  hero,  in  1698,  camo  tlic  good 
Fath  .'  Halle,  a  French  priest,  as  a  missionary,  who  after 
twenty-three  years  of  devoted  self-denial  amoM<^  these  red 
cliililren,  was,  in  1724,  cruelly  slain  in  a  sudden  attack  hy  a 
]>;irty  from  ]\[assachusetts.^  When  ArnoM  arrived  there, 
in  October,  177."),  he  found  an  utter  solitude.  The  only 
mementos  of  the  once  happy  villar^e  were  the  ruins  of  the 
altar  and  the  chapel,  and  a  cross  which  marked  the  "jfrave  of 
the  venerable  priest.  From  this  ])lace  the  march  was  to  be 
tliroUii'li  a  wild  and  uninhabited  wilderness,  without  jiaths, 
and  often  without  even  an  Indian  trail.  Across  dismal 
swamps  and  decej>tive  bogs,  up  rocky  ])reci|>ices  and  almost 
inaccessible  mountains,  along  streams  full  of  rajnds  and 
falls,  and  along  and  over  all  these  obstacles  the  rude  bat- 
teaux,  the  arms  and  ammunition,  with  which  to  attack  the 
strongest  fortress  in  America,  and  all  their  ])rovision8,  su]»- 
plies  and  clothing,  to  jirotect  them  Irom  the  rigor  of  a 
Canadian  winter,  now  too  raj)idly  approaching,  were  to  be 
transjjorted. 

Draft  animals  could  not  be  used  to  any  considerable  ex- 
tent, as  a  large  portion  of  this  savage  and  desolate  i*egion 
was  then  inaccessible  to  any  animals  but  those  of  the  chase. 

At  the  falls  near  Norridgewack,  the  first  portage  was  en- 
countered. Here  the  batteaux,  ammunition,  provisions, 
everything  had  to  be  taken  from  the  water,aiid  carried  by 
liaiul  a  mile  and  a  half  aroniul  the  falls.  It  A\as  a  task  of 
great  labor  and  fatigue,  the  baid<s  being  high,  rocky  and  un- 
even. Upon  uidoading  the  boats  it  was  found  that  a  large 
])ortion  of  the  provisions,  esj)ecially  the  bread,  had  been 
s|)oiled  by  the  leaks  in  the  boats,  and  uie  various  accidents 
and  injuries  which  luid  happened  in  ascending  the  Kenne- 
bec. The  carjjenters  M'ere  immediately  set  to  work,  and  a 
week  was  expended  in  repairs,  :e-loading  the  boats,  and 
getting  ready  to  start, 

1.    Thayer's  Journal,  p.  50. 


60 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


!''f| 


Wliilc  the  soldiers  were  busy  crossing  this  portai^o,  dA- 
onel  Arnold  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  and  with  their 
concurrence  letters  were  dispatched  by  a  friendly  Indian, 
to  certain  f^entlemen  in  Quebec,  believed  to  bo  friendly,  in- 
forming them  of  the  approach  of  the  expedition.'  Dis- 
])atches  were  also  sent  to  General  Schuyler,  but  they  di<l 
not  reach  their  destination,  and  are  supposed  to  have  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

As  soon  as  the  last  boat  was  in  the  river,  ready  to  start, 
Arnold  in  Ids  bark  canoe,  still  jiaddled  by  Indians,  shot 
rapidly  ahead  of  the  rear  division,  and  in  two  days  came 
up  with  the  first  two  divisions,  at  the  great  carrying  ])lace, 
some  twelve  miles  below  the  junction  of  the  Kennebec  with 
the  Dead  river.  Thus  far,  everything  had  been  as  favorable  as 
he  had  anticipatrd,  and  although  the  force  had  been  reduced 
by  sickness  and  other  causes  to  950  men,  yet  both  soldiers  and 
officers  were  in  good  spirits,  and  all  seemed  as  sanguine  and 
hopeful  as  their  leader.  By  this  time  they  had  learned 
what  manner  of  man  this  leader  was,  and  ho  had  fully 
secured  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  men.  Loud 
cheers  welcomed  and  followed  his  Indian  canoe,  as  it  passed 
and  repassed  forward  and  backward  along  the  lines  of  his 
])atient,  resolute  and  toiling  sohliers.  For  physical  endur- 
ance, activity  and  strength,  he  had  few  equals,  and  perhaps 
110  superior  in  the  expedition." 

The  "great  carrying  place"  was  a  distance  of  twelve  or 
fifteen  miles,  across  from  the  Kennebec  to  Dead  river.  The 
pioneer  party  had  found  this  to  be  the  most  difficult  j)art  of  the 
route.  Hugged,  rocky  highlands,  deep  ravines,  ponds,  dee]) 
swamps,  constantly  succeeded  each  other.  Still  the  faithful 
soldiers  toiled  on,  sometimes  rowing,  sometimes  pushing 


1.  Journal  of  Isaac  Scntcr,  p.  GO,  Sept.  7.    "By  a  council  of  the  officers,  it  was 
thought  advisable  to  send  letters  into  Quebec." 

2.  Manuscript  letter  of  Kev.  Mr.  Lealie. 


nrp,    f'ol- 

th  tlieii" 

Indian, 

nillv,  in- 

they  <li"l 
vo  fallen 

'  to  start, 
inns,  shot 
ays  came 
lug  place, 
ebec  with 
vorable  as 
n  reduced 
Idiers  and 
(Tuinc  and 
li  learned 
had   fully 
tx\.     Loud 
^  it  passed 
nes  of  hif5 
!al  endnr- 
d  perhaps 

twelve  or 
•er.  The 
lartof  the 
nds,  dee]) 
lie  faithful 
pushing 

jfflcers,  it  was 


HIS   TATRIOTISM   AND   HIS  TREASON. 


Gl 


tlii'ir  boats  with  poles;  ofti'ii  jiiinpin<^  a.shore  and  ])ullin_<; 
tlit'in  witli  ro})es,  and  then  wading  in  the  water  up  to  their 
arni-pits.  At  night  they  landed,  kindled  a  fire  in  the  forest, 
took  their  hard  and  scanty  rations,  6lee])ing  on  the  ground, 
and  with  the  early  sunrise  resumed  their  exhausting  toil. 
Thus  they  worked  their  way,  over  the  land,  to  the  iirst 
jMiiid,  then  in  their  boats  lloated  down  it,  then  another 
|ii>rtage,  tlien  another  pond,  and  again  a  portage,  and  a  third 
|Min<l  and  portage,  until  they  reached  the  Dead  Uivcr.  Sal- 
mon trout  were  caught,  and  occasionallv  the  hunters  sue- 
ceeded  in  bringing  down  a  deer  or  an  elk.  j\rean\vhile 
Arnold  caused  an  accurate  account  of  ])rovisions  to  be 
taken,  and  found  that  his  suj)]tlies  would  last  for  twent\'- 
live  days,  and  he  then  coiifKlently  hoped  to  reach  the  waters 
of  the  Chaudiere  in  ten  days. 

But  as  a  matter  of  prudence,  many  being  sick,  he  caused 
a  block-house  to  bo  built  near  the  second  portage,  called 
"Arnold's'  Hospital,"  at  which  the  sick  and  exhausted  were 
left.  lie  had  already  given  orders  for  another  block-house 
near  the  Kennebec,  as  a  depository  for  the  provisions  or- 
dered up  from  Xorridgewack. 

As  the  soldiers  pushed  their  boats  up  Dead  river,  passing 
around  a  bend,  a  high  mountain  covered  with  snow  rose  be- 
fore them.  Encamping  near  the  foot  of  this  mountain, 
Arnold  raised  his  flag,  and  the  incident  has  been  commem- 
orated by  giving  the  name  of  "Flagstafl'"  to  a  village  near 
by,  and  the  mountain  has  been  named  ^It.  Bigelow,  after 
^[ajor  Bigelow,  who  is  said  to  have  climbed  to  the  top,  in 
the  hopes  of  seeing  Quebec. 

Provisions  were  becoming  scarce,  and  Arnold  dispatched 
Lt.  Colonel  Greene  with  a  party  to  the  rear  for  su])pHes. 
Morgan  and  the  riflemen  had  gone  forward,  and  the  com- 
mander followed  with  the  second  division.     For  three  days 

1.   Scnter's  Journal,  pp.  11  and  12. 


02 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


they  cnconntcM'cd  cold,  drencliinc;  rains,  and  every  man  was 
wet  to  the  skin,  and  all  the  baiji^ago  soaked  with  water. 
One  ni<i;ht,  abont  the  23d  of  October,  a  fearful  storm  arose, 
the  rain  falliniij  in  torrents,  so  that  the  river  rose  ciirht  to 
ten  feet  in  this  single  nii>'ht;  the  current  became  rapid,  full 
of  drift  wood,  and  the  channel  diflieult  to  find  and  follow, 
and  portages  frequent,  and  at  length  seven  of  the  batteaux 
were  upset,  and  their  contents,  including  provisions,  were 
lost.  This  was  a  very  serious  misfortune,  for  they  were  now 
in  tiie  very  heart  of  the  wilderness;  weary,  worn  out,  pro- 
visions poor  and  scanty,  wintry  Avinds  howling  around  them, 
M'ith  unknown  dilhcuities  confronting  them.  Yet,  in  noiu; 
of  the  journals  is  there  any  iiulication  of  despair;  neither 
the  men  nor  the  officers,  nor  their  leader,  flinched  from 
going  forward,  and  it  should  be  remembered  that  they  were 
going  towards  and  not  from  the  enemy.'  On  the  24th  of 
October  it  was  supposed  that  they  were  within  thirty  miles 
of  Chaudiere  pond,  and  that  their  ]U-ovisions  might,  with 
grent  care,  hold  out  for  twelve  or  tifteon  daj's.  Another 
council  was  called,  and  it  was  decided  to  send  back  to  the 
liospital  the  sick  and  feebh;,  and  tliat  only  the  strong  and 
hardy  should  go  forward. 

Arnold  had  written  to  Washington  on  the  loth  of  Octo- 
ber, from  the  second  portage,  between  the  Kennebec  aiul 
Dead  river,  when,  after  giving  details  of  the  expedition,  he 
said: 

"Your  cxcollency  may  possihly  tliink  wo  liavo  boon  tardy  in  our 
marcli,  *  *  V)ut  wlion  you  considor  tho  bailnoss  and  the  woi^lit  of  tlio 
battoanx,  tho  lar^'e  quantity  of  provisions  we  havo  boon  obliucd  to  tovcf 
up  a^'ainst  a  very  rapid  stroam,  wboro  you  would  havo  taken  tiio  men 
for  amphiltious  animals,  as  thoy  wore  a  f^rcat  part  of  tho  tiino  under  wa- 
ter; add  to  this  tho  great  fati^nio  in  portage,  you  will  think  I  havi' 
pushed  the  men  as  fast  as  could  possibly  bo  done."* 

1.  Henry's  Journal,  p.  ').!.    Maine  His.  Col.  Vol.  11,  [i,  170. 

2.  Collections  of  Maine  Uis.  So.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  171,  17^. 


will 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TUEASOX. 


man  wa^ 
til  water, 
nn  arose, 
1  elglit  to 
apid,  full 
ul  follow, 
I  batteaux 
ons,  were 
were  now 
L  out,  pro- 
iind  them, 
;t,  in  none 
r;  ncltlier 
elied  from 
;  they  wen; 
\c  24th  of 
hirty  miles 
lig-ht,  with 
Another 
ack  to  the 
stro'.is;  and 

h  of  Oct(.- 
lu'hce  and 
edition,  he 

iirdy   in   our 

WL'ij^llt  of  till' 

i-cd  to  tovct' 
vcn  tlio  lliril 
If'  uiuler  \va- 
hiiik   I  bavi' 


The  next  day  he  wrote  back  ''  to  hurry  up  tlie  provisions 

as  fast  as  possible."     On  the  J  7th  lie  wrote  to  Lt.  Colonel 

Knos  from  "  Dead  river,  20  miles  above  the  ])ortage:  " 

"  I  find  Colonel  fircone's  division  very  short  of  provisions.  I  Imvo  or- 
lU'ied  Major  Jii^'elow,  with  thirty-one  men  out  of  each  company,  to  return 
and  meet  your  division,  and  brino-  up  such  provisions  as  you  can  spare, 
to  be  (lividfd  equally  amon<^  tin-  three.  Tliis  will  li<,'liten  the  I'ear,  ami 
they  will  l)e  able  to  make  {,'reater  dispatch.  *  I  make  no  doubt  you  will 
hurry  on  as  fa.st  as  possible.' 

On  the  24th,  Arnold,  on  Dead  river,  tliirty  miles  from 
(haudiere  pond,  writes  again  to  Enos:  "I  have  been  de- 
layed by  the  extreme  rains  and  freshets;  have  provisions 
for  twelve  or  fifteen  days,''  and  adds  that  in  a  council  of 
the  officers  it  had  been  decided  to  send  back  all  the  sick  and 
feeble,  and  directing  Knos  to  select  as  many  of  his  best  men 
as  he  could  furnish  with  provisions  for  fifteen  days,  and  the 
remainder,  sick  and  well,  should  be  sent  back,  and  he  con- 
chides:  '' I  make  no  doubt  von  will  ioiii  with  mo  in  this 
matter,  as  it  may  be  the  means  of  saving  tlie  whole  detacli- 
ment  and  executing  onr  plan,  as  fifteen  days  will  doubtless 
britig  us  to  Oiinada.  I  make  no  doubt  you  M'ill  make  all 
|»ossible  ex])edition,"' 

( )n  the  same  day  he  wrote  to  Greene:  "  Send  1)ack  all  the 
sick,  and  proceed  oti  witli  the  best  men.  Pray  hurry  an 
fad  as  possihUy 

]\rea!nvhile  Arnold  liimself  was  hurrying  on  with  all  pos- 
sible dis])atch.  1'iie  rain  changed  to  snow,  ice  covered  the 
water,  and  the  men  wading  and  breaking  through  snow 
and  sleet,  at  length  reached  the  very  summit  which  sepa- 
rates the  waters  of  Xew  England  from  those  of  Canada. 
Another  ])ortage  of  four  miles  brought  them  to  a  small 
stream,  along  which  they  ])ass'  "  :o  Lake  ^Fagentic,  the 
Cliaudiere  pond.  On  the  27th  Arnold  addressed  a  letter 
t"  "  (ireene,  Enos,  and  the  captains  in  the  rear,"  saying,  "  I 

1     Mane  His.  CuL,  \\>\.  I,  p.  ITU, 


V  * 


f'TfJ- 


64 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


'I'liin' 
gnii 


ii 

1 


sliall  proceed  as  fast  as  possible  to  the  inliabitants  to  send 
back  provisions;  pray  make  all  possible  dispatch."  The 
day  he  reached  Chaudiere  pond  he  wrote  to  AV^ashington, 
explaining  the  dilHciilties  which  had  retarded  his  progress, 
saying,  "I  have  this  minute  arrived."  lie  ex])lains  how 
the  jjrovisions  became  short  by  losing  a  number  of  loaded 
batteaux  at  the  falls;  he  had  ordered  all  the  sick  and  feeble 
to  return.  "I  am  determined,"  said  he,  "  to  set  out  imnie 
diately  for  Sartigan  (the  first  French  settlement)  and  procure 
a  supply  of  provisions  and  send  back  to  the  detachment."  ^ 
lie  adds  that  if  he  finds  the  enemy  had  not  been  apprised 
of  his  coming,  he  should  attempt  to  surprise  Quebec  "as 
soon  as  a  2>roj)er  number  of  men  should  arrive."  lie  con- 
cluded by  saying,  "  I  have  been  deceived  by  every  account 
of  our  route,  which  is  longer,  and  has  been  attended  by  a 
thousand  difiScnlties  I  never  apprehended,  but  if  crowned 
with  success,  I  shall  think  it  but  trifiing." 

On  the  very  day  previous  to  the  date  of  the  above  letter, 
AVashington,  writing  to  Schuyler,  says:  "My  anxiety  ex- 
tends to  poor  Arnold,  whose  fate  depends  upon  the  issue 
of  your  campaign.""  Again  AVashington  writes  to  Sclni}'- 
ler:  "I  am  alarmed  for  Arnold,  whose  expedition  is  built 
U])on  yours,  and  who  will  infallably  perish  if  the  invasion 
and  entry  into  Canada  is  abandoned  by  your  successor."^ 

On  the  29th  of  October  Arnold  wrote  "To  the  field- 
oflficors  and  the  ca])tains,  and  to  be  sent  on,  that  all  may 
see  it,"  an  encouraging  letter,  saying  the  scouts  had  re- 
ported that  the  French  Avere  rejoicing  at  his  approach,  and 
would  gladly  supply  provisions;  lie  tells  them  he  had  just 
met  Steele  and  Church,  and  that  he  was  going  forward  as 
fast  as  possible,  and  that  he  hoped  in  six  days  to  send 
back  provisions,  and  prays  them  to  make  all  ^^of"  "Ac  tils- 

1.  Mniiie  Uis.  Col.  V.il.  I,  pp.  4TG-477. 
•i.  Am.  Ari'liives,  4  S.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  ITO. 
a.    Am.  Archives,  4  S  ,  1875,  p.  iiTG. 


HIS   PATRIOTISJI    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


65 


o  send 
"    The 
ington, 
fogress, 
ns  how 
'  loaded 
id  feeble 
t  iiunie 
procure 
imeut."  * 
apprised 
hec    "  as 

lie  con- 
r  account 
Jed  by  a 

crowned 

ve  letter, 

ixiety  ex- 

the  issue 

to  Sclniy- 

,  is  built 

invasion 
^ssor.''^" 

the  field- 
It  all  may 
had  re- 

•oac'h,  and 
had  just 
I'orward  as 

•s  to  send 
\r"A6  dis- 


jxttch.  If  any  could  spare  provisions,  they  were  to  divide 
with  those  most  needy. ^ 

The  same  dav  he  wrote  a-'ain  to  Enos,  unconscious  that 
tliis  ofticer  had  already  al)aiuloned  the  expedition,  saying: 
"I  hope  soon  to  see  you  in  Quebec.'"'  About  tliis  time  it 
seems  that  the  order  of  march  by  companies  was  given  up, 
and  all  were  urged,  in  their  extremity,  to  push  on  with  all 
]»ii>sil)le  speed  towards  the  French  settlements,  to  which 
Arnold  himself  was  hastening,  to  obtain  supplies. 

A  few  extracts  from   the  journals  of  the  soldiers  will 

illustrate  tlieir  condition  better  than  any  language  I  can 

use.    Henry  says: 

"  October  29th  our  provisions  were  exhaustoil.  We  had  no  meat  of  anj' 
kind.  ^J'ho  flour  was?  diviiled,  and  each  man  had  fivo  pints,  and  it  was 
baked  into  five  cakes,  under  the  ashes,  in  the  way  of  Indian  bread."  ^ 

"  We  slept  on  fir  branches,  and  on  awakening?  in  tlie  morning',  and  the 
blanket  thrown  from  my  head,  what  was  my  surprise  to  find  we  had 
slept  under  at  least  four  inches  of  snow."  * 

Henry  gives  tlie  details  of  the  misfortunes  of  a  poor 

drummer  named  Sliafer,  wlio  had  defective  eye-sight.     His 

mishaps,  sometimes  ludieruous,  often  ])atlietic,  were  caused 

l»y   his   imperfect  sight.      Some  mischievous   or  heartless 

soldiers  had  stolen  all  his  last  five  cakes.     The  mess  of  which 

Henry  was  a  party  first  laughed  at  him,  and  then  gave  him 

a  cup  full  of  flour  and  Henry  gavehiiu  his  own  third  cake. 

OftL'U  in  crossing  the  gullies  and  ravines,  the  soldiers  would 

t-ross  on  a  lou  wliich  had  been  blown  down  bv  the  wind,  or 

the  ax  men  had  felled.     Often  poor  Shafer  would  tr.mblo  off, 

•  Iruni  aiul  all,  and  he  Mas,  as  Henry  says,  "the  laughing 

stock "  of  the  soldiers,  but  to  Henry  himself  an  ol)ject  of 

compassion.     Yet  this  poor  drummer,  half  blind,  starving, 

and  almost,  naked,  '"bore    his   drum  uninjured  to  Quebec 

I.    Miiinc  Ui".  Col.,  Vol.  I, pp.  177-8. 
■J.    Miuiie  Ui.s.  Col.,  p.  478. 
'■i.    Ili'iiry's  Jo\irnaI,  pp.Q'J-Ca. 
■1.    lluiiry'ii  Journal,  p.  03. 
5 


PI 


ji:   k 


i!i'lii!*N' 


L 

.1 ' 

GG 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


when  many    stroni^   and    luilc   men    died    in  the     wilder 


ness 


?5  1 


Henry  descril)es  the  endurance  of  the  wife  of  Serireant 
Greer,  who  was,  lie  says,  "  a  lai-i^e,  virtuous  and  respectable 
woman,"  accom])anying  her  husband  and  the  soldiers  in 
their  march.  They  encountered  a  pond  frozen  over  with 
ice  ;  breaking-  the  ice  with  their  hands  and  guns,  the}' 
marched  on  and  soon  found  themselves  "waist  deep  in 
water.''  Ho  was  astonished  l>y  the  endurance  of  ^Mrs. 
(ireer,  as  she  raised  her  clothes  Diore  than  waist  high, 
'to  keep  them  dry.'  She  waded  before  me  to  firm  ground, 
and  no  one  dared  intimate  a  disrespectful  idea  of  her."' 

"Marching  on,  without  even  the  path  of  the  savage  to 
guide  lis,  we  found  a  battcau  to  take  ns  across  which  the 
]>r()vidence  of  Col.  Arnold  had  stationed  therefor  our  accom- 
modation." ' 

"Thus  we  proceeded,  the  pale  and  meager  looks  of  mv 
companions  tottering  on  their  feeble  limbs,  '^  *  and  com- 
ing to  a  sandy  beach  of  the  Chaudiere,  some  men  of  our 
company  were  observed  to  dart  from  the  file,  and  with 
their  nails  tear  out  of  the  sand  roots  which  they  deemed 
eatable,  and  eat  them  raw.  ]\)werful  men  struggled,  even 
with  blows,  for  these  roots,  such  was  the  extremity  of  their 
hunger.  During  the  day's  march  (Nov.  2\  I  sat  down  on 
the  end  of  a  log,  abt-olutely  fainting  with  hunger  and  fatigue. 
A  ]>arty  of  soldiers  were  making  a  broth.  They  gave  me  a 
cup  of  it."  It  had  a  greenish  hue,  and  Henry  tasted  it.  It 
was  made  of  a  dog,  a  large  black  Newfoundland,  which  had 
beh)nged  to  Captain  Dearborn,  and  though  a  great  favorite, 
and  tlie  faithful  companion  of  their  march,  it  was  given  uj> 
to  appease  the  cravings  of  their  hunger.     "They  eat," says 

].  llenry'.«  Journal,  p.  Co. 
V!.  Hfiiry's  Jouninl,  p.  07. 
;!.    Henry's  Journnl,  p.  07. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


G7 


AVI 


Idcr 


Sergeant 
L'Sjiectiible 
uUliurs  iti 
over  'with 
;un8,  they 
t  deep  in 
(jf  :Mrs. 
uifit  liij^h, 
111  ground, 
ler."^ 

SilVflgC  to 

whicli  the 
niraccom- 

oks  of  my 
and  coiii- 
lon  of  our 
and  with 
V  deemed 
ed,  even 
■  of  their 
(hiwii  on 
1  fatigue, 
gave  nie  a 
.■d  it.     It 
wliieli  had 
:  favorite, 
given  up 
eat,"  says 


Im 


Dearborn,  "every  part  of  him,  not  excepting  his  entrails,' 
and  tlien  collected  the  hones  to  pound  up  and  make  hroth 
fur  another  meal.''  There  M'as  only  one  other  dog  in  the 
<k't;u'hnieiit.  This,  too,  was  killed  and  eaten.  Old  moosc- 
liide  breeches  were  boiled  and  then  broiled  on  the  coals  and 
eaten.  Sonic  tried  to  make  sou])  out  of  their  old  dcei'skin 
moccasins,  but,  although  the  poor  fellows  boiled  them  long, 
they  were  leather  still.  j\Iany  died  from  fatigue  and  hun- 
ger, frequentl}'  in  four  or  five  minutes  after  giving  up  and 
sitting  down.  Henry  says  these  hardslii])s  ju'oduced  among 
the  men  a  willingness  to  die."  J>ut  Avhy  mnltij)ly  details; 
nothing  induced  these  resolute  men  to  murmur  or  com- 
])lain. 

Daring  all  their  suflPerings  and  privations,  such  was 
Arnold's  influence  over  them,  and  such  the  confidence  he 
IkuI  ins{»ired,  there  was  no  murmuring.  He  liad  shared 
every  danger;  they  were  satisfied  lie  was  doing  the  best  that 
could  be  done,  and  they  believed  in  his  ability  to  take  them 
thnjugh.  The  hour  of  supreme  peril  came  at  last,  and 
speedy  relief  must  be  had,  or  the  men  would  die  by  the 
hundred  from  absolute  starvation.  Selecting  a  small  party 
of  the  strongest  men,  Arnold  started  at  10  o'clock  for  tiie 
French  settlement,  ami  he  made  twenty  miles  in  two  hcmrs, 
]tassing  down  the  Chaudiere  with  all  the  speed  ])ossible. 
Tlie  river  was  rocky,  ra])id  and  dangerous,  and  now  three  of 
his  batteaux  dashing  against  the  rocks,  were  stove  in,  losing 
all  their  baggage  and  ])rovisions,  and  the  meii  barely  escap- 
ing with  their  lives.  This  disaster  saved  them  all  from 
death,  for  alialf  a  mile  farther  on  was  an  unknown  and  ter- 
rible fall,  over  which  no  l)oat  could  safely  ]>ass,  and,  if  it 
liad  nut  been  discovered,  all  would  have  j)erished.  This 
man  of  iron,  however,  M'as  still  hopeful  and  determined, 

1.    I.eit^r  of  Dearborn,  quoted  In  Thayer's  Journal— note  to  pnge  15. 

•->.    Ik'iiry's  Journal. 


^^ 


lii  i: 


68 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   AKXOLD. 


and,  dividiiii^  the  small  quantity  of  provisions  still  left,  and 
takin<5  with  him  but  six  men  and  two  hoats,  he  pressed  on, 
conscious  that  the  lives  of  hundreds  of  his  brave,  patient, 
devoted  followers,  depended  on  his  success  in  procuring 
immediate  succor. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  at  night,  he  reached  the  first 
house,  eighty  miles  from  the  lake,  and  with  the  next  morn- 
ing's sun  a  supply  of  fresh  provisions  and  flour  had  started 
and  was  hastening  back,  with  all  possible  speed,  yet  none 
too  soon  to  save  the  lives  of  his  famishing  soldiers.' 

Says  one:  "  When  we  saw  the  cattle  coming  up  the  river 
that  Arnold  had  sent,  it  was  the  joyfullest  sight  I  ever 
beheld,  and  some  could  not  refrain  from  tears." 

Arnold  sent  careful  instructions  that  the  needy  should 
take  sparingly,  and  those  who  had  provisions,  to  let  what  was 
sent  pass  on  to  those  most  in  need,  so  that  all  might  be 
relieved.  On  the  8th  of  November  he  wrote  to  Washing- 
ton, giving  further  details  of  his  march,  and  saying  that 
the  detachment  had  all  hap])ily  arrived  within  two  or  three 
day's  march,  except  "Colonel  Enos'  division,  which,  I  am  sur- 
])rised  to  hear,  are  all  gone  back,"  "  and  in  spite  of  this  and 
all  other  disasters,  he  writes  liopefuUy  of  the  success  of  the 
enterprise. 

The  journals  of  these  "forty  days  in  the  wilderness,"  in- 
cluding ArnoUrs  letters  and  journal,  give  a  plain  but  vivid 
•I)icture  of  the  sufferings  endured  and  the  difficulties  over- 
come. The  men  had  hauled  or  puslied  their  batteaux  one 
hundred  and  eighty  miles,  and  carried  them  and  all  their 
contents  at  least  forty  miles  on  their  shoulders,  and  yet 
starving,  half  naked,  nearly  frozen,  "fired  with  a  love  of 
liberty,  the  men  pushed  on  with  a  fortitude  saperior  to  erery 
obstacle."' 


i 

III 

1 

pi 

Li 

Lii 

1.  Arnold  to  Washington,  Maine  His.  Col.  Vol.  T,  p.  482. 

2.  Arnolil  to  Wasliington,  Nov.  8,  1770.    Maine  Uis.  Col.  Vol.  I,  p.  482. 

3.  Lctterof  Arnold ;  Maine  Hist.  Col.,  Vol.  I,  p.  400. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TKEASON. 


CO 


left,  and 

3Bsed  on, 

patient, 

rocuring 

the  first 
xt  morn- 
d  started 
yet  none 

the  river 
it  I  ever 

ly  should 
what  was 
might  be 
Washing- 
ying  that 
o  or  three 
I  am  sur- 
f  this  and 
ess  of  the 

•ncss,"  in- 
l»ut  vivid 

Ities  over- 
teaux  one 
all  their 

I,  and  yet 

la  love  of 
•rtoe\-ery 


|S2. 


■i 


:-ii 

'W 


4 

'si 


The  desertion  of  Enos  was  very  nearly  fatal  to  the  expe- 
dition. The  party  that  returned  took  back  with  them,  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  Senter,  more  than  tlieir  ])roportion  of  the 
jiruvisions,  and  thus  contributed  to  the  extreme  scarcity  of 
food.' 

On  his  arrival  at  Cambridge,  Enos  was  put  under  arrest 
by  Wasliington,  tried,  and  altliongh  acquitted  (the  wit- 
nesses against  him,  many  of  them,  being  where  he  ouglit 
to  have  been — in  Canada),  yet  he  never  acquired  again  the 
confidence  of  the  commander,  and  left  the  army.' 

"Washington  writes  to  Schuyler:  "In  consequence  of 
Knos'  return,  Arnold  will  not  be  able  to  make  a  successful 
attack  on  Quebec,  without  the  co-operation  of  Montgom- 


.■rv." ' 

Kothing  could  exceed  the  indignation  felt  towards  Enos, 
by  those  wliom  he  liad  abandoned.  Henry  says,  "Enos' 
desertion  was  worth}'  of  punishment  of  the  most  exem- 
]»lary  kind,"  *  "Enos  got  frightened,  and  with  tlie  greater 
part  of  the  provisions  turned  back."  It  is  somewliat  sur- 
] (rising  tliat  the  im])etuous  and  })assiomite  Arnold,  in  writ- 
ing to  AVashington  of  this  desertion,  says  only,  "Colonel 
Knos'  division,  I  am  surprised  to  hear,  are  all  gone  back." " 
To  which  Wasliington  replies,  "Your  surprise  could  not 
be  greater  than  mine  at  Enos' return." *  "I  immediatelv 
])ut  him  under  arrest,  and  liad  liim  tried  for  quitting  your 
"letachment  without  your  orders."  ' 

1.  Sto  Dr.  Sontcr's  Journal,  p.  17.  "Wc  were  left  the  altcnintivcof  nccopiiiif,'  tlie 
^imiU  iiittance,  ami  proceed  or  return.  The  former  was  ndi)pted,  with  the  deter- 
liiintd  resolution  to  go  vhrough  or  die." 

2.  "Uis  appearance  excited  the  greatest  indignation  in  tlic  cont'  lental  cnmp, 
and  Enos  was  looked  upon  as  a  traitor  lor  thus  deserting  his  companions  and 
iiidangering  the  whole  e.vpedition.' — iossniy'*'  I-'icld  Buuk  of  tlie  lievulutim,yol.  I, 
p.  \>->. 

3.  Force's  Am.  Archives  4th  S.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  1703. 

4.  lieury's  Journal,  p.  132. 

5.  Apjicndix  to  Henry's  Journal,  p.  18G. 
fi.    Am.  Archives,  4  S.,  Vol.  III.  p.  l'J2. 

7.    Sjiarks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  192-3. 


70 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


I 


"VVritiiij^  to  Sc'huyle",  AVii.sliiiii^toii  expresses  his  relief  and 
joy  at  Arnold's  Bate  arrival,  and  adds,  ''The  merit  of  that 
oflieer  is  certainly  great,  and  I  lieartily  wish  that  fortune 
may  distinguish  him  as  one  of  lier  favorites.  He  will  do 
everything  whieli  prudence  an<l  valor  can  suggest."  ' 

Henry  relates  an  incident,  liaving  reference  to  himself, 
illustrating  the  character  of  Arnold.  As  the  army  were 
approaching  the  St.  Lawrence,  Henry  became  so  ill  he  could 
not  march,  and  he  seated  himself  on  a  log  by  the  side  of 
the  road  while  the  troo])s  ])asfeed  by.  "In  the  rear,"  says 
he,  "came  Arnold  on  horseback."  Seeing  the  young  sol- 
dier sitting  by  the  roadside,  ])ale  and  dejected,  Arnold 
halted  and  dismounted,  I'an  down  to  the  river,  and  hailed 
the  owner  of  the  house  which  stood  opposite.  The  Cana- 
dian rpiickly  came,  and  "took  me  into  his  boat,  and  Arnold 
])lacing  two  silvt-r  dollars  in  my  hand,  the  Frenchman  car- 
ried me  to  his  house,"  and  there  he  was  kindly  cared  for 
until  he  was  able  to  join  his  comrades.  '^  "' 

An  ofKcer  in  the  expedition,  writing  from  near  Quebec, 
Nov.  21st,  gives  his  im])ressions  of  Arnold.  "Our  com- 
numder,"  says  he,  "is  a  gentlemau  worthy  of  the  trust 
re])0sed  in  him;  a  man,  I  believe,  of  invincible  courage,  of 
great  ])rudence;  ever  serene,  he  defies  the  greatest  danger 
to  affect  him,  or  difhculties  to  alter  his  temper;  in  fine,  you 
will  ever  find  him  the  intrepid  hero  and  the  unrutHed 
Christian."  * 

Such  appeared  Arnold  to  his  comrades  on  the  march  to 
Canada. 

The  candid  student  of  history,  after  reading  the  various 
journals  of  this  expedition,  including  the  modest  one  of 
Arnold,  and  his  letters  to  "Washington,  will  not,  I  think, 

1.    Am.  Arch.  4  S  ,  Vol.  IV,  p.  191. 
ii.    Uenry's  Journal,  p.  77. 

;i.    The  i)raise  of  the  soldiers  he  Icil  to  Boston,  of  being  "a  very  humane  and 
tender  officer,"  seems  to  have  been  well  merited. 
4.   Henry 's  Journal,  appendix,  p.  180. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TUKASOX. 


71 


•elief  and 
t  of  tlmt 
t  fortune 
e  will  do 

I  liiinself, 
•my  wen; 
1  ho  could 
e  side  of 
3ar,"  savs 
oung  Bol- 
1,  Arnold 
nd  hailed 
Hie  Cana- 
id  Arnold 
Innan  car- 
eared  for 

r  (^uel)ec, 

Our  coni- 

tlie  trust 

urao;o,  of 

st  danger 

fine,  you 

unruffled 

march  to 

le  various 

|}st  one  of 

t,  I  thinlc, 


■  humane  and 


withhold  the  conclusion  that  it  was  coiulucted  with  con- 
>iiinmate  ability.  During  all  the  difticulties  I  have  ut- 
tcniptod  to  descrihe,  all  testinu)ny  coiu'urs  in  estahlishiug 
that  the  loader  iposscsscd  great  executive;  ability;  that  he 
was  resolute,  ever  thoughtful,  vigilant  and  active,  and  saga- 
cious in  overcoming  obstacles.  Jle  had  such  control  over 
his  men  that  none  subject  to  the  nuignetism  of  his  personal 
jiresence  yielded  to  despondency.  It  was  those  <^>nly  who 
were  behind  with  Knos  who  harbored  the  thought  of  aban- 
doning the  entei'])rise.  This  jtower  of  ins|)iring  men  with 
onthusiiism,  holding  them  up  to  a  high  ]inrpose  in  the  face 
of  danger,  is  rare,  and  has  always  marked  the  gi-eat  liaders 
of  nu'u.  This  power  was  exhibited  by  Arnold  in  a  very 
remarkable  degree,  not  only  in  this  e.\i»edition,  but  in  the 
hard  l)attles  which  he  afterwards  fought.  AVashington,  as 
we  shall  see  in  the  ])rogress  of  this  narrative,  recognized 
this  ])o\ver  and  sent  him  to  the  post  of  danger,  iu)t  only  on 
Mccount  of  his  courage,  but  also  because  of  his  ])ower  over 
the  militia  ami  his  ability  to  nmke  them  fight  like  veterans. 
In  the  midst  of  solitude,  far  from  succor,  cold,  ill-clad, 
sometimes  freezing,  often  nearly  starved,  nothing  but 
enthusiasm  for  their  cause,  and  jierfect  confidence  in  their 
leader,  could  have  created  and  held  them  up  to  their  reso- 
lute ])uri)ose.  It  is  impossible  to  read  the  details  of  the 
expedition  without  being  struck  with  wondi'r  at  the  energy 
and  perseverance  which  surmounted  such  obstiich's.  The 
intelligent  aiul  im])artial  foreign  histori-'ui,  I'otta,  speaks  of 
the  achievement  as  entitling  its  leader  to  be  ranked  "  among 
the  great  captains  of  anticpiity."  I>ut  for  Arnold's  treason, 
this  march  and  the  assault  upon  Quebec  would  have  been  ii 
favorite  theme  of  poetry  and  ehjcjuencc,  and  the  record 
thi  R'of  one  of  the  brightest  pages  in  American  history.  Is 
it  ju-t  to  his  brave  associates  to  savnothinij  of  Arnold  himself. 
To  rub  them  of  their  well-earned  glory,  because  it  would 


72 


LIFE  OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


illuminate  a  traitor's  name?  The  sober  and  measured  lan- 
guage of  Washington  "warms  into  ])atlios,  and  almost  pas- 
sionate eloquence,  when  s])eaking  of  their  exploits  and  suf- 
ferings. Indeed,  src^"  vus  the  imj)ression  that  Arnold's 
difficulties  and  conduce  made  upon  him,  that  he  closes  liis 
letter  of  December  5th  with  the  prayer:  "  That  the  Almighty 
may  preserve  and  prosper  you,  in  the  glorious  work  you 
have  begun,  is  the  sincere  and  fervent  prayer  of,  dear  sir, 
etc."  • 

This  expedition  has  been  compared  to  that  of  Napoleon 
crossing  the  Alps,  the  retreat  of  the  10,000  described  by 
Xenophon,  and  to  Bonaparte's  retreat  Iroin  Moscow;  but 
in  justice  to  the  American  soldiers,  it  should  be  remem- 
bered that  this  was  an  advance  and  not  a  retreat.  Every  dif- 
iiculty  overcome  placed  them  nearer  the  enemy,  and  farther 
from  tlieir  friends.  Every  obstacle  they  surmounted  was  a 
barrier  against  retreat.  Taking  it  altogether,  it  is  not  ex- 
travagant to  say  that  for  tough  endurance  and  unflinching 
courage,  it  is  diflicult  to  find  its  parallel." 

1.    sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  192. 

'i.  In  a  letter  dated  Nov.  27,  Arnold  gives  a  brief  summing  np  '  C  the  expedition; 
"Thus  in  about  eight  weclts  we  completed  a  march  of  near  (ioo  miles,  not  to  be 
paralleled  in  history  ;  the  men  having,  with  tlie  greatest  fortitude  and  persever- 
ance brought  their  battenux  np  rapid  streams,  being  obliged  to  wade  almost  the 
whole  way,  near  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  ;  carried  them  on  their  shoulders 
near  forty  miles,  over  swamps  and  bogs  almost  Impenetrable,  and  up  to  their  knees 
in  mire,  being  often  obliged  to  cross  them  three  or  four  times  with  tlieir  baggage. 
Sliort  of  provisions,  part  of  the  detachment  disheartened  and  gone  back,  famine 
staring  us  in  the  face;  an  enemy's  country  and  uncertainty  aliead.  Notwithstand- 
ing all  these  obstacles,  the  officers  and  men.  Inspired  with  a  love  of  liberty  and 
their  country,  pushed  on  with  a  fortitude  superior  to  every  obstacle,  and  most  of 
them  had  not  one  day  s  provisions  for  a  week."— .Vanie  His.  Col.  of  V'ul.  I,  jip.  49j-(i, 


CHAPTER  IV. 


ASSAULT  UrON  QUEBEC. 

"It  IP  not  in  the  power  of  any  man  to  commanrl  success,  but  you  have  done 
more;  you  havu  deserved  H."—\\'cuhiH<jUm  to  Atnohl.  (1) 

"  'Tis  not  in  mortals  to  command  success, 
But  we  '11  do  more,  Scmiirouius,  we  '11  deserve  it." 

~Addieon's  Colo. 


Arnold  Holds  ANTsniAN  Council— IIis  Speech  to  the  Indians— Crosses  the  St. 
I.AwiiKNcE— f'LiMns  TO  the  I'laiss  of  Abuaham,  and  Menacis  Quebec— Re 
cEiVES  Thanks  or  Washington  and  S^chuyi.kk— Montoomeuy  and  Arnold 

A-SAILT  QUFBEC— MoNTU  >MEIIY    Kll  I.ED— .\KN0LD   SHOT  WlIlLK  I.EADINU  THE 

'■  FuKLOitN  Hope  "  —Made  A^liRioADiEu-GENEitAL- Block ades  Quebec. 

Thk  energy  and  activity  of  Colonel  Arnold  saved  liis 
detaeliinent  from  actual  starvation,  but  it  taxed  both  to  the 
utmost.  A  few  hours  more  witiiout  relief  w  ^d  have  seen 
many  of  his  gallant  ineu  helijless  and  dying  in  the  forest. 

By  the  8th  of  November  nearly  all  of  the  detachment, 
except  the  rear  division,  had  reached  his  camj)  at  the  French 
settlements.  The  men  came  straggling  in,  singly,  in 
squadsof  small  parties,  and  in  companies.  Their  comman- 
der imnisdiately  set  al)out  ro-organizing  ''the  straggling 
and  ema-^'ated  troops."^  On  the  4th  of  November,  while 
the  soldiei-s  were  coming  in,  a  bodv  of  Indians  occunvini; 
as  their  hunting  grounds  a  ]>art  of  the  territory  over  which 
Arnold  had  marched,  waited  upon  liim  at  Sartignan,  and 
with  all  the  formality  and  dignity   which  characterize  an 

I.  Pptirks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  102. 

II.  Henry's  Journal,  p.  70. 

(73) 


'i 


LIFE   OF   JJFNEDICT   AIlxNOLD. 


Indian  council,  cloniaiideil  the  Ciiuse  of  hid  entering  \\]M)n 
tlu'ir  tcn-itorv. 

Colonel  Arnold  made  a  formal  reply,  saying': 

"FiitKMJH  AN'I)  liliKTiiUKN:— 1  feel  iiiys<lt' very  liappy  ill  mci-tinf^  willi 
so  iiiiiny  of  my  Itrctlin'ii  from  tlio  (litft'rfiit((iiiii'ti'rs  of  tlic  i(r>-iii  country, 
and  more  bo,  an  I  find  we  meet,  as  fritMidn,  luid  tliat  wo  are  equally  coii- 
cerncil  in  tliiH  cxpiMlition.  IJrotlu'rs,  we  are  tlie  eliildrcn  of  tlmse  peoj)!)' 
who  liave  now  takfii  np  tlie  liatrlict  against  us.  More  than  oiii'  lumdretl 
years  ajfo  we  worn  all  as  one  family.  We  then  ditltnMl  in  our  reliirion, 
and  ciinie  over  to  this  f^reat  country  liy  consent  of  thf  kin^;.  Oar  lathers 
boujfht  lantl  of  the  sava;,'es,  and  have  fj:rown  a  {i^reiit  i)i'opli'  —  even  as 
the  stars  in  the  sky.  We  have  planted  the  j^round,  and  by  our  lalior 
jifrown  rich.  Now  a  new  kin;,'  ami  his  wicked  ^'reat  nim  want  to  taki- 
our  lands  and  money  without  our  consent.  'J'his  we  think  unjust,  and  all 
ourpreatmen,  from  the  river  St.  Lawronce  to  the  Mississippi,  met  together 
at  Philadrlphia,  whcie  they  all  talki'd  to^rctjior.  and  sent  a  prayer  to  the 
kins^  that  they  would  be  brothers  and  liKht  for  liini,  Ijut  would  not  give 
up  their  lands  and  money.  The  kin^'  would  not  hear  our  prayer,  but 
sent  a  ^'reat  army  to  Boston  and  indeavored  to  set  our  lirethrcn  against 
us  in  (  anada.  'I'iie  kind's  army  at  Hoston  came  out  into  the  fields  and 
houses,  killed  a  yreat  many  women  and  children  while  they  were  jieace- 
ably  at  work.  The  Bostonians  sent  to  their  brethren  in  the  country,  and 
they  came  in  unto  their  relief,  and  in  six  days  raised  an  army  of  fifty 
thousand  men,  and  drove  tie;  kind's  troops  on  board  their  shijis,  killed 
and  wounded  fifteen  hundred  of  their  men.  Since  that  they  ilurst  not 
come  out  of  ]?oston.  Now  we  hear  the  French  and  Indians  in  Canada 
have  sent  to  us  that  the  kin.i^'s  trooi)s  oppress  them,  and  make  them  pay 
a  great  price  for  their  rum,  etc.,  press  them  to  take  up  arms  against  the 
Hostoiiians,  their  brethren,  who  have  done  "them  no  hurt.  By  the  desire 
of  the  French  and  Indians,  our  brotiiers,  we  have  come  to  tliiMr  assist- 
ance, with  an  intent  to  drive  out  the  king's  soldiers;  when  drove  ott",  wi' 
will  return  to  our  own  country,  and  leave  this  to  the  peaceable  enjoyment 
of  its  proper  inhabitants. 

Now  if  the  Indians,  our  brethren,  will  join  us,  wo  will  be  very  much 
obliged  to  them,  and  will  give  them  one  Portuguesj  per  month,  two  dol- 
lars bounty,  and  find  them  their  provisions,  and  the  liberty  to  choose 
their  own  olticers."  ' 

This  remarkable  and  curious  speech  had  the  desired 
effect.  A  treaty  was  eMtere<l  into;  the  principal  chief, 
Natanis,  with  his  brother  Sabatis,  M-ith   about  Hfty  war- 

1.    Journal  of  Dr.  Isaac  Hcnter,  p.  23. 


■  ^ 


HIS    PATUIOTISM    AND    HIS    TllEASON. 


/•) 


I'iurs,  joined  the  expedition,  and  served  faithriilly  in  the 
ffl'orts  against  (2uel)e(;.  The  French  and  Canadians  kindly 
wcK'onu'd  "tlie  IJostonians,"  as  they  called  tlio  soldiers  of 
the  United  Colonies,  furni^heil  them  with  sjipplies,  and 
;favc  siu'h  manifestations  of  friendship  as  eneonra;^'e(l  tlu; 
(itllcers  of  the  e.\pediti(»n  to  hoj»e  for  their  active  aid  and 
co-oiieration.  The  detachment  hein;;  a<^ain  organized,  were 
not  permitted  to  linger;  for  Arn<dd,  ever  san<^nine,  still 
entertained  h<»pes  of  surj)risin«;  (Quebec.  The  beautifid 
valley  of  the  Chaudiere  spread  out  before  them,  and  acntss 
the  St.  Lawrence  was  (Quebec,  the  city  and  fortress,  for  the 
capture  of  which  they  had  been  so  lon«;  toilini^.  The  weary 
Mildiers  would  j^ladly  liave  lingered  to  recruit  their  ex- 
hausted streni,'th;  but,  says  an  otKcer  in  his  jourmd,  "  we 
were  not  permitted  to  tarry  at  any  jdac.e,  but  nuirched  as 
fast  as  our  6tren;j;th  would  admit,  to  Point  Levi."'  All 
alonix  the  nuirch  Arnold  caused  t(»  be  distributed  a  mani- 
festo  from  Washin^^t"f)u  to  the  Canadians,  which  had  been 
pr^jmrcd,  translated  into  French,  and  ])riiited  before  his 
ilepartiwe  from  Cambrid<,'e,  assiirin<^  them  of  the  friendship 
of  the  L'^nited  Cohniies,  and  askinnf  their  co-o])eratiou 
and  assistance.  The  people  were  treated  with  the  utmost 
kindness  and  respect,  and  nothing  was  left  undone  to  con- 
ciliate their  good  will. 

Such  was  the  celerity  of  Arnold's  movements,  that  with- 
in ten  days  after  his  arrival  at  the  settlements  with  his 
live  or  six  attendants,  he  had  gathered  in,  and  reorganized 
Ills  men;  had  marched  seventy-five  miles  to  Point  Levi,  and 
by  the  thirteenth  of  Decendier  all  his  soldiers,  except  the 
>ick  and  disabled,  had  gathered  arourul  him;  and  iu)W  across 
ilie  St.  Lawrence  towered  the  citadel  of  Quebec.  The 
walls  of  the  city  were  bris<-ling  with  heavy  ordnance.  The 
Uritish  authorities,  apprised  of  his  approach,  had  burned 

1.    Sec  Appendix  to  Henry's  Journal,  p.  183. 


TT 


76 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


every  boat  on  the  river,  and  sentineled  the  channel  with 
vessels  of  war.  Could  he  have  found  the  means  of  cross- 
ing immediately  on  his  arrival,  it  is  probable  Quebec  would 
liave  fallen  into  his  hands.'  "We  tarried  at  Point  Levi 
nearly  a  week,  during  which  time  we  were  busy  in  prepar- 
ing to  cro^5  the  river  ;  being  obliged  to  purchase  birch-bark 
canoes  twenty  miles  distant  and  carry  them  by  land,  the 
regulars  having  burned  all  near  them  as  soon  as  they  heard 
of  our  approach."  "  During  this  time  there  had  prevailed  a 
terrible  storm  of  wind  and  sleet,  which  rendered  any  at- 
tem])t  to  cross  impossible  ;  meanwhile  the  garrison  had  been 
strengthened  by  troops  from  Newfoundland  and  from  the 
Sorell,  under  McLain.  Tiie  storm  having  abated,  on  the 
thirteenth,  at  nine  o'clock  at  night,  Arnold  with  his  bark 
canoes  succeeded  in  eluding  a  British  frigate  and  sloop,  and 
other  vessels  stationed  in  tne  river  to  intercept  him  ;  and 
before  he  was  discovered,  had  landed  five  hundred  men  at 
"Wolfe's  Cove,  leaving  one  hundred  and  iifty  on  the  other 
side  unable  to  cross. 

A.t  daybreak  on  the  following  morning,  he  and  his  troops 
liad  climbed  the  difficult  path  and  formed  his  little  army  on 
the  plains  of  Abraham.  Here,  sixteen  years  before,  AV^olfe 
had  died  at  the  hour  of  victory,  repeating  the  lines  of  his 
favorite  poet  Gray, 

"The  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  th?  grave." 

His  victory  and  death  had  given  him  a  monument  in 
Westminster  Abbey,  and  his  name  had  been  added  to  the 
roll  ot  heroes  which  illustrate  the  records  of  England's 
military  glory.     AVere  the  Americans  and  their  leader,  now 

1.  When  Arnolrt  nppcared  opposite  Quebec,  "this  dariiiar  spirit  .vis  moved  to 
an  immediate  advance.  That  instant  of  time  \\ns  one  of  tliose  wliicli  contain  vast 
posslbiUties,  and  Arnold  was  a  man  pecuUarly  prompt  to  seize  opportunities  for 
daring  adventure."— CarriH(7ton'«/Ja(Wf«o/  the  Iicvulutiun,p.  130. 

2.  Letter  of  an  officer  of  the  expedition  pubHshed  la  the  appendix  to  Henry's 
Journal,  p.  l&i. 


.-V' 

4 


..It 


t 


m 


*»w« 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


/  / 


cl  with 
if  cross- 
c  would 
ut  Levi 

])ropai'- 
fch-bark 
and,  the 
ey  heard 
availed  a 

any  at- 
had  been 
rom  the 
1,  on  the 
liis  Lark 
loop,  and 
ini  ;  and 
d  men  at 
he  other 

lis  troops 
army  on 
',  AV\)lte 
!S  of  his 


initent  in 
3d  to  the 
Ingland's 
ider,  now 

Icoiitain  vast 
Irtuiiities  for 

to  Henry's 


standing  on  this  liistoric  "jdain/'less  brave  and  meritorious 
than  those  who  overcame  ^Monteahn? 

How  did  the  enterjirise  of  AVolfe  and  that  of  Arnold 
compare  in  point  of  difficulty  and  danfijer?  "NVlien  Wolfe 
led  his  troops  to  the  plains  of  Abraham,  his  fleet  consisting 
of  twenty-two  ships  of  the  line,  completely  commanded  the 
riviT,  while  Arnold  had  crossed  in  frail  bark  canoes  and 
landed  his  soldiers  by  stealth,  the  St.  Lawrence  being  abso- 
lutely controlled  by  British  men-of-war. 

"Wolfe  had  an  army  of  thousands  of  well  trained,  well 
e(|uipped,  well  armed  veterans,  while  the  Americans  did 
not  exceed  six  hundred  eti'ective  men — aTiil  these  in  rairs, 
bare-footed,  M'orn  Avith  fatigue,  armed  witli  damaged  mus- 
kets, and  without  artillery;  yet,  with  these  few  men,  and 
relying  on  the  friendly  feeling  of  the  people  within  the 
city,  and  of  the  Canadian  militia,  ArnoKl  determined,  if 
])ossible,  to  provoke  a  sally  and  an  attack  by  the  garrison, 
as  AVolfe  had  done.  He  marchod  his  men  up  to  the  walls, 
gave  cheers,  to  which  some  of  the  citizens  responded,  and 
tried  by  every  means  to  ]n-ovoke  an  attack,  but  in  vain; 
wiser  but  less  chivalrous  than  Montcalm,  the  English  kept 
within  the  shelter  of  their  walls.'  Arnold  says,  "my  men 
were  in  want  of  everything  but  stout  hearts,  and  would 
have  gladly  met  the  enenn',  whom  mo  endeavored  in  vain 
to  draw  out  of  the  city."" 

The  garrison  at  this  time,  including  regulars,  marines  and 
militia,  were  some  eighteen  hundred  strong,  but  such  Avere 
the  fears  felt  by  Lieutenant  Governor  Cramaha  and  Colonel 
^[(.•Lain  of  the  loyalty  of  the  inhabitants  and  of  the  militia, 
Hud  so  great  were  the  apprehensions  created  by  the  assailants, 

1.  "  Suppose  the  Mfiniuis  of  Montcalm  not  to  quit  his  intrenched  lines  to  accept 
lliat  straii:-'e  clmUenut!  (nf  WolfcO  *  *  *  ai:'!  what  becomes  of  the  glory  of  the 
voun^'  hvToV—nnrknaji's  llcnry  Esmond. 

-  Tills  act  of  Arnold  lias  been  comlemiicd  ns  "silly  bravado,"  but  a  similar  act 
'•(  Mniittromcry,  whore  tlio  superiority  of  the  garrison  over  his  troops  was  equally 
great,  lias  not  been  so  characterized. 


iflft 


78 


LIFE   OF   BKNEDICT    AKNOLD. 


tliiit  with  all  llieir  snperiurity  of  nnmher.s,  tlioj  would  not 
venture  ontside  the  walls.  Arnold  then  sent  a  Hag  demand- 
ing the  snrrender  of  the  city,  but  the  bearer  of  it  was  fired 
upon.'  Hearing  that  Sir  Guy  Carleton  was  approaching  with 
reinforcements  froni  up  the  river,  and  after  iinding  that  ho 
had  ammunition  only  for  five  rounds  to  a  man,  Arnold 
tiiought  it  })rii(lent  to  retire;  and  he  succeeded  in  taking 
his  troops  to  Point  aux  Trembles,  twenty  miles  ab(jve  Que- 
bec, there  to  await  the  ayival  of  Montgomery,  who  was 
approaching.  This  retreat  was  none  too  soon,  for  lie  had 
scarcely  reached  his  cam])  when  the  great  guns  of  Quebec 
announced  the  arrival  of  Sir  (tuv  Carleton,  the  same  who 
had  been  a  sul)altern  under  Wolfe  at  the  time  of  his  victory 
over  ^[oiitcalm.  AVas.  .igton,  with  a  generons  apprecia- 
tion, never  bliiul  to  the  merits  of  his  subordimites,  wrote  to 
Arnctld,  saying,  ''It  is  not  in  the  ])owerof  any  man  to  com- 
mand success;  but  you  have  done  more — you  have  deserved 
it."  At  this  time,  ignorant  of  his  retreat  from  the  walls  of 
the  city,  he  adds:  "  I  ln»pe  yctu  have  met  with  the  laurels 
which  were  due  to  your  trials  in  the  possession  of  (^ueljec." 
''  My  thaid<s  are  sincei-ely  ofi'ered  to  you  for  your  enter])rrse 
and  persevering  s]>irit."'  And  on  another  occasion,  AVash- 
ington,  after  e.\})ressing  his  hoj)es  for  Arnold's  success,  says: 
"Then  you  will  have  added  the  only  link  wanting  in  the 
great  chain  of  continental  union,  and  rendered  the  freedom 
of  your  country  secure.''  '  General  Schuyler,  writing  to 
Washington,  says:  "Colonel  Arnold  has  great  merit.  Jle 
has  been  pecidiarly  unfortunate  that  one-third  of  his  troops 
left  him.  If  the  whole  had  been  with  him  when  he  arrived 
at  Quebec,  he  would  ju-obably  have  had  the  sole  honor  of 
giving  that  important  j>lace  to  America.''^ 

1.    Maine  Uis.  Soc.  Col.  Vol.  I.  p.  494. 
'J.    Am.  Arohivos,  4th  S..Vi)l.  IV,  p.  l'J2. 
3.    Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vul.  IV,  p.  'iJG. 


V 

5 


4 

i 


m 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TllEASOX. 


70 


mid  not 
Llemaml- 
,vas  tir».'tl 
iiifi,' with 
:  Ibivt  lie 

Arnold 
n  takinii^ 
JVC  Que- 
^vho  was 
r  lie  liud 
:  Quel)fc 
anu!  who 
s  victory 
apprecia- 

wrotc  to 

11  to  COlll- 

deservL'tl 
walls  of 
10  laurt'ls 
(.)\ic1k'('."" 
nter])i*rsc' 
,  AVasli- 
ss,  says: 
t;'  in  tilt' 
tVei'dom 
itiiiij^  to 
it.  '  IIo 
--  troops 
arrived 
lonor  of 


The  alarm  of  the  Canadians  on  seein^^  these  resolute  men 


niuTge 


from     the  wihlerness,    was    very    great. 


Tl 


leir 


march  through  the  forests  and  over  the  mountains  seemed 
almost  incredil»h-.  and  the  most  exaggerated  re])()rts  of  their 
numhi'i-s,  their  skill  witli  the  riile,  and  indomitahle  pruwe»s, 
spread  through  the  country. 

1'liis  alarm — ])anic  would  describe  it  more  accurately — 
jii'i'N  eiited  the  English  from  attacking  the  Americans.  Some 
acts  (if  Arnold  which  liavf  \)vvn  criticised  as  "vanity"  ami 
"bravado,''  were  among  the  means  he  used  to  keep  up  this 
alarm,  he  lieing  one  of  those  M-ho  af^t  u})on  the  ])rinci])le 
that  boldness,  even  to  temerity,  is  sometimes  prudence. 
"They  best  succeed  who  dare." 

( )n  the  lltth  uf  Noveml)er  Carleton  arrived  at  Quebec,  and 
his  coming  ins])ired  the  loyalists  with  hope  and  confidence. 
Moiitiromerv,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  command  of  Schnv- 
Icr's  army,  had  thus  far  been  brilliantly  successful.  He  had 
(•aiitin'('(l  kSt.  Johns  and  ]\Iontreal,  and  came  down  the  8t. 
Lawrence,  hoping  to  complete  his  career  of  trinm]»h  by 
taking  Quebec.  Ihit  his  troojis  were  undisci])lined  and 
soiiiotimes  turbulent,  so  that  his  authority  over  them  reste<l 
largely  upon  his  personal  influence.  The  time  of  the  en- 
li>tiiu'iit  of  many  of  them  having  expi.  'd  at  the  ajiproach 
of  winter,  rendered  them  unwilling  to  remain,  and  he  was 
Ictf  with  eight  hundred  men  oidy  with  which  to  garrison 
Montreal  and  go  down  to  aid  .Vrnojd  in  the  capture  of  Que- 
liec.  On  the  third  of  December  he  I'eached  Arnold's  camp 
at  i*(>iiit  aux  Trembles,  and  brought  with  him  but  three  hun- 
di't'd  men.  lie  however  brought  clothing  and  stores,  to 
relieve  the  necessities  and  sufferings  of  the  hardy  men  who 
gliidly  welcomed  him.  He  found  only  six  hundred  and  sev- 
ciity-tive  of  those  who  had  left  Candjridge;  these  he  re- 
lie\i(K  {lud  was  imju'esseu  by  them,  as  he  says,  'Mvith  a 
stvle  of  diijcipline  much  superior  to  what  I  have  been  used 
to  -ee  ill  this  campaign.''       "  Colonel  Arimld's  corj)s,'' gays 


»li 


80 


LIFE   OF   BEVEDICT    ARNOLD. 


iWlliil 


iliili 


he,  "is  an  exceedingly  fine  one,  and  lie  liimself  is  active, 
Intel] i<^cnt  and  enterprisinij^."  ' 

Munti^^omery  and  Arnold  seem,  from  their  letters,  to  have 
inspired  each  otlier  ■with  mutual  respect  and  confidence, 
and  there  was  the  most  cordial  co-o})eration  hetween  them. 
Both  were  young,  enthusiastic,  and  fired  with  a  love  of 
glory.  At  the  time  of  the  assault  Montgomery  was  thirty- 
seven,  and  Arnold  thirty-four  years  of  age."  On  the  5th  of 
December  this  little  army,  not  exceeding  one  thousand  men, 
with  a  regiment  of  two  hundred  Canadian  volunteers, 
which  Arnold  had  raised,  and  a  few  Indians  who  had  fol- 
lowed him  from  the  wilds  of  IMaine,  marched  down  towards 
Quehec,  nnquestionahly  the  strongest  fortified  city  in 
America,  defended  l)y  two  hundred  cannon  and  a  garrison 
of  double  the  number  of  the  assailants.  The  assaidt  must 
be  made  at  an  early  day,  for  the  terms  of  the  enlistment  of  a 
lara-e  nuinber  of  the  Xew  Eii'dund  men  would  ex])ire  on 
thoSlst  of  December,  and  many  had  left  families  at  home  to 
which  they  M'oro  impatient  to  return.  Montgomery  sent  a 
fiag  demanding  the  surrender  of  the  town.  It  was  fired  upon, 
as  was  that  sent  by  Arnold,  and  refused  admittance.  Then, 
following  tlie  example  of  Arnold,  he  sent  "a  menacing  and 
extravagant  letter"  to  tiie  commander,  bnt  Carleton  refused 
to  hold  "  any  kind  of  jiarley  with  rebels."  '  "  To  the  storm- 
ing we  must  come  at  last,"  said  the  ijallant  !N[ont2;onierv. 

A  council  of  war  was  called  and  the  two  leaders,  sus- 
tained by  their  subordinates,  ivsolved  on  the  desjierate  and 
almost  forlorn  ho])e  of  an  assault.  It  was  arranged  that 
Montgomery  shoukl  attack  the  lower  town  by  the  way  of 
Cape  Diamond  on  the  I'iver,  and  Arnold  on  the  side  of  St. 

1.  Montgomery  to  Schuyler,  Dw.  M\.  ITTf);  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  IV.  p.  18!). 

'i.  The  moiuuiieiit  ti>  Moiitifoniery  in  St.  Pauls  cluirch-yurd,  Nuw  York,  states 

tluit  lie  was  iified  I'm  yi'urs  i\l  I  lie  time  ot  his  Jealh. 

a.  Lossing's  Lite  of  Sclniylcr,  Vol.  I,  p.  '1^0. 


HIS  patriotis:m  asd  his  treasox. 


81 


is  active. 


s,  toliave 

nfidence, 

f' 

eii  tlieni. 

love  ut" 

as  tliirty- 

:) 

le  otli  of 

and  ineii, 

)liiiiteers, 

luid  fol- 

ri  towards 

citv    ill 

f^arrison 

lult  must 

.;rrf 

nent  of  a 

,;V 

jjxpirc  on 
t  lioiue  to 

i-y  sent  a 

red  ii])oii. 

/'{ 

.     Tlien, 

ein/^  and 

A 

n  refused 

■i 

le  storin- 
)mor3'. 
Irrs,  sus- 
jrate  and 
iged  that 
way  of 
le  of  St. 

|il.  IV.p.  189. 
fork,  states 


lidipic,  wliile  two  feigned  attacks  were  to  Le  made  on  other 
])arts  of  tlic  city.  On  tlie  hist  day  of  the  year,  in  the  midst 
•  if  a  (h'iviiig  siiow-storm,  Montgomery  and  Arnold  led  in 
jiiTsnn  the  two  assaulting  parties.  Tlie  troops  were  started 
at  two  A.  M.,  and  that  they  might  recognize  each  other  in 
the  darkness  and  storm,  each  soldier  wore  on  his  cap  a  band 
I'f  white  paper,  on  which  many  wrote  the  electric  words 
••  Lilferty  or  deatli,"  For  many  of  those  gallant  felloM's, 
iliere  was  to  he  no  to-morrow,  no  JVao  I^yw's  day.  Yet 
they  were  cheerful,  conliding  in  their  leaders  and  liopeful 
of  success.  ]\[ontgomery  at  the  head  of  his  ])arty  marched 
from  his  quarters  at  Holland  house,  to  Wolfe's  Cove,  tlience 
fi  ir  two  miles  along  the  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  barrier 
under  Cape  Diamond.  The  carpenters  instantly  began  to 
saw  off  the  pickets;  entering  the  opening  thus  nu\de,  ]\[()nt- 
gomery  found  himself,  with  his  aids,  in  advance  of  his 
troops,  and  sent  back  messengers  to  hurry  them  forward; 
continuing  to  press  onward  himself,  until,  directly  in  his 
front,  a  log  house  with  loop-holes  f(.ir  muskets  ami  a  bat- 
tery of  two  three-pounders  interce])ted  liis  passage.  This 
log  house  was  held  by  a  party  of  British  soldiers  and  sea- 
men, ami  as  ^Nfontgomery  and  his  party  approached,  "a 
]iart  of  the  guard  was  seized  with  a  panic;  but  the  C(mi- 
niander  restored  order  and  the  sailors  stood  at  their  guns 
with  lighted  linstocks."  ^Montgomery  ])au>ed  inside  the 
pickets  until  about  sixty  of  his  men  joined  him,  then 
>liouting,  "Men  of  Xew  York,  you  will  m)t  tV-ar  to  follow 
where  your  getieral  leads;  come  on,  my  brave  boys,  and 
p  <  Quebec  is  ours  I "'  he  rushed  forward   towards  the  battery. 

I  As  lie  and  his  Jiarty  came  running  uj"),  the  cannon,  loaded 

%  with  grape-shot,   were  dischargeil   into  their  breasts,  and 

Moiitgomerv,  his  aid  McPherson,  and  voung  Cheeseman, 


# 


ami 


ten  others,  instantly  fell.     Their  leaders  killed,  the  col- 
nun  broke  and  fled.    This  left  the  garrison  free  to  concen- 


mi 


82 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


tPiite  all  its  force  upon  the  attack  Arn<»l<l  M'as  making  on 
the  northeastern  side  of  the  town,  lie  hiniseif  leading  the 
"forlorn  Impe"  of  about  twenty -five  men. 

llad  Alontgoniorvand  Arnold  made  the  assault  with  e.\])c- 
rienced  soldiers,  both  wonld  have  lioen  jnstly  censured  for 
the  great  personal  exposure  wliicli  resulted  in  tlu>  dcatli  >•[' 
one  and  tJie  severe  wounding  of  the  othc  removing  then 
at  the  moment  their  services  were  most  needed.  I5nt  each 
led  militia,  many  of  whom  had  ])r(»l)al)ly  never  been  under 
serious  lire,  and  Avhile  these  troops  would  cheerfully  follow 
and  obey  the  order  --"  Come  on.  boys  '' — they  might  hesitate 
and  falter  if  toM  to  '"go  ahead,  boys.''  Arnold,  therefore, 
as  usual  with  him.  led  the  forlorn  lio]i(\  marching  about  one 
hundred  yards  before  the  main  bo(ly.  " 

As  he  reached  Palace  (iate,  in  the  mid>t  of  a  wild  storm, 
the  alarm  was  ringing  from  all  the  bells  of  the  city,  drums 
were  beating,  and  the  artillery  ojiened  ui»on  him.  "With 
their  fearless  leader  at  their  front,  the  ])arty  ran  along  in 
single  file,  bending  ilown  their  hea<ls  to  avoid  the  storm,  and 
covering  their  guns  witli  their  co;its  to  kee]>  their  poAvder 
dry.  ]janib,  with  a  field-])iece  upon  a  sled,  and  ^Morgan, 
with  his  I'itlemen,  followed.  The  lirst  barrier  was  at  the 
Sault  au  Matelot;  a]>pr()aeliing  this  the  ]»arty  found  them- 
selves in  a  narrow  way,  swej>t  by  a  battery,  with  soldiers 
tiring  upon  them  from  houses  on  each  side  of  the  jjassage. 
Arnold,  advancing  ra]udly  towards  the  barrier,  cheering  his 
men  to  the  assault,  was  struck  by  a  musliet  bidl,  at  the 
moment  of  its  capture,  llis  leg  was  broken  and  he  fell 
forward  u])on  the  snow.  Risinii-  with  great  ellbrt,  being 
able  to  use  only  one  leg,  he  emleavured  to  press  forward, 
and  refused  to  be  carried  from  the  iicld  until  the  nuiin  body 
came  up.     Dr.  Seriter,  who  accompanied  the  expedition  as 


1.    "Arnold,  Icadins  the  forlorn  hope,  aclvancid  pcrlmp-^  one  hundred   yards 
before  Uie  main  body."— i/cmi/'s  Juunnil,  p.  107. 


Ills    TATT^TOTISM    AM)    HIS    TREASON. 


83 


siirifoon,  savs:  ''  I)a_vli:Lrlit  liad  scarcely  made  its  appear- 
ance ore  (\)lon('l  Arnold  was  l»n>u<rlit,  in,  sui>])f)rtod  ])y  tw( 
Mildiers,  wouiKled  in  the  \e<x  liy  a  jiicfo  of  a  musket  Lall." 


Xow, 


sav; 


II 


enrv, 


we  saw  Colonel  .Vriiold  returninir. 


woimdi'd  in  the  leL,^  sii])])oi-ted  l»y  two  i,feiitlenien.  .\niold 
called  to  the  troops  in  a  clieerini^  voice  as  wo  ])a.sse(l, 
iiri.dn_ij  us  forwaiv].""  His  stejis  iroin  the  harricade  to  the 
hospital  could  be  traced  hy  the  blood  which  llowed  from  his 
wound. 

]\reanwhile,^[or(;'an.Poi-terfield,  (irecne.  and  otliers,  ])ress- 
\]\'j^  up  and  Ibrward,  carriivl  the  battery  .and  took  the  <^uard 
jirisoiiers;  they  pressed  on  to  tlie  second  i)arvicade,  and  the 
most  heroic  eiiorts  were  nia<le  to  carry  it,  also.  The  voice 
of  the  ijallant  ]\rorgaii  could  l)e  lieard  above  the  storm, 
cheeriuii^on  his  ritiemen  *'^  *].c  assault;  but,  unsu]>ported  by 
others,  the}'  Avere  too  t,      to  succeed. 

Some  retreated;  moiv,  includiuijj  Morgan,  Greouo,  j\rei<>;s, 
Hendricks  and  otlun's,  of  the  gallant  band  who  followed 
Arnold  tiu'ough  the  wilderness,  were  compelled  to  sur- 
render. AVhile  his  detachment  was  still  Ughiiig,  Arnold, 
••not  f<  '•  n.  moment  forgetful  of  his  duty,''  writes  from  the 
ho.Nj»i' .  to  Woo^ter,  in  command  at  Montreal,  giving  an 
account  of  the  disaster  as  far  as  kiujwn,  and  asking  for 
reinforcements.^  As  rcjxii'ts  of  continued  disasters  caine 
into  the  hos2)ital  where  he  lay, 

"  We  entreated  Colonel  Arnold,"  says  Dr.  Senior,  '"for  liis  own  safety 
to  lie  carried  back  into  tlie  country,  where  they  ennld  not  n-adily  find  liini, 
hut  tono  pnrposo.  Ho  would  neither  he  removed  nor  sutler  a  man  from 
llie  hospital  to  retreat.  He  ordered  his  pistols  loadiMh  with  ii  swurd  on 
his  bed,  adding',  lie  was  determined  to  kill  as  many  as  possible,  if  tliey 
came  into  the  room.  We  were  now  all  soldiers;  even  to  the  wonndeil  in 
their  beds  were  ordered  a  gun  by  their  side,  that,  if  they  did  attack  the 

1.  "  Two-thirds  of  the  baU  entered  the  outer  side  of  the  lep,  about  midway,  and 
in  iUi  olilique  course  between  thftibin  and  the  til)ula.  and  lodged  in  the  muscle  at 
llie  ri>e>if  ilie  teudnu  Acliillcs."—!')'.  Juaac  Scntci's  Jounial,  p.  ol. 

1'.    Henry's  Journal,  p.  109. 

".    Lossiugs  Life  of  Schuyler,  Vol.  I,  p.  D02. 


84 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


HI 


iiiiil 


hospital,  to  iiiiiko  tlu'  most  vi^'orons  dcfcnso  possihln.  Onlors  wore  also 
sent  out  into  tlio  villatrcs  round  tiio  city,  to  tin;  captains  of  the  militia,  to 
immediately  as-emblo  to  our  assistance."  ' 

Carlcton,  still  distrnstiiii^  tlic  loyalty  of  tlio  j)eo])lo,  sent 
out  no  troops  in  pursuit,  nd  tlic  American  camp  was  un- 
•  listurbed.  On  the  sixcli  oi"  January,  Arnold,  still  in  the 
lios})ital,  writes:* 

"The  commo'.fl  of  the  army  by  the  death  of  my  truly  gi-cat  and  good 
friend,  General  Montgomery,  devolves  upon  ino,  a  task  [  find  too  heavy 
under  my  present  circumstances.  I  received  a  wound  Ijy  a  hall  through 
my  left  leg,  at  the  timo  I  had  gained  the  first  batt  -ry  at  the  lower  town, 
which,  by  loss  of  blood,  rendered  me  very  weak.  As  soon  as  the  main 
body  came  up,  I  rctireil  to  the  hospital,  near  a  mile,  on  foot,  being 
obliged  to  draw  one  leg  after  me,  and  a  great  part  of  the  way  under  the 
continued  fire  of  the  enemy  from  the  walls,  at  no  greater  distance  than 
fifty  yards."' 

But,  notwitlistanding  his  wt)und,  liis  eyes  were  fastened 
longingly  on  the  walls  of  Quebec,  "  and,"  says  this  indomita- 
ble nipn,  "  I  have  no  thouglits  of  leaving  this  proud  town  un- 
til I  first  enter  it  in  triumj)!!."  *  *  "My  wouiul  has  been 
exceedingly  painfid,  but  is  now  easy";  and  "the  Providence 
which  has  carried  mo  through  so  many  dangers  is  still  my 
])rotection."  *  *  "I  am  in  thu  way  of  my  duty  and  know 
no  feai"." 

Had  the  ball  that  shattered  his  leg,  pierced  his  heart,  his 
would  have  been  associated  witli  the  names  of  AVolfe  and 
^[ontgomerv,  among  the  heroes  who  have  died  for  their 
country.  JJut  there  was  work  for  him  yet  to  do  in  aiding 
to  achieve  the  independence  of  his  country.  Patriot  blood 
still  coursed  through  his  heart,  and  he  Mas  destined,  on 
still  more  sanguinary  battle-fields,  to  shed  that  blood  freely, 
for   his   country  ;  and  then  attempt  to  betray    it.       Ills 

1.  Senior's  Journal,  p.  35. 

2.  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  IV,  p.  5Sa. 


ill 


niS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASOX. 


85 


services  were  effective — Providence  rendered  his  treason 
abortive. 

As  soon  as  the  news  of  the  attaclc  upon  Quehec  reached 
Congress,  that  body  unanimously  promoted  liim  to  tlie  rank 
uf  Brigadier  General,  as  a  reward  for  his  gallantry  in  tlie 
a.-;sanlt,  as  well  as  for  his  skill,  address  and  energy  in  con- 
ducting his  army  through  the  wilderness.  On  the  thir- 
teenth of  February',  he  wrote  to  Congress,  returning  tlianks 
for  his  promotion,  which,  says  he,  "I  shall  study  to  de- 
,^erve."' 

Schuyler,  writing  to  AVashington,  and  referring  to  the 
attack  on  Quebec,  says,  with  inaidy  feeling:  *'  The  gallant 
.Montgomery  is  no  more!  the  brave  Arnold  is  wounded, 
and  we  have  met  with  a  severe  check  in  an  unsuccessful 
attack  njon  Quebec."'' 

AVashington  replies  with  equal  feeling:  "I  condole  with 
you  on  the  fall  of  the  brave  and  worthy  JMontgomery," 
"  "  "  and  I  am  much  concerned  for  the  intrejjid  and 
enterprising  Arnold."' 

Grateful  for  the  kind  consideration  and  good  wishes 
which  AVashington's  letters  had  expressed,  Arnold  replies' 
"  1  am  greatly  obliged  for  your  good  wishes  and  the  con- 
cern you  express  for  me.  Sensible  of  the  vast  importance 
of  this  country,  you  may  be  assured,  my  utmost  exertions 
>liall  not  be  wanting  to  eft'ect  your  wishes  in  adding  it  to 
the  United  Colonies.  I  am  able  to  hobble  about  my  room, 
though  my  leg  is  a  little  contracted  and  weak;  I  ho])e  soon 
to  be  readv  for  action." '  Some  historians,  unwilling  to  com- 
mend  and  industriously  seeking  cause  of  complaint  against 
Arnold,  have  criticised  his  conduct  at  Quebec,  sugirestinir 
that  if  he  had  done  this,  or  that  lie  might  have  succeeded. 
To  such  critics,  let  AVashington's  letters  re])ly.     This  calm, 

1.    Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  IV,  p.  1017. 

-.    Irving's  Wasluiigton,  p.  4C;!. 

U.    Am,  Archives,  1th  S.,  Vol.  IV,  p.  1574. 


■■;i" 


» 


mm 


8G 


LIFE   OF   «1:NEDICT  ARNOLD. 


just  man,  mIio  undcrtitcxxl  fill  the  Ikcts  and  difTicultiop,  had 
no  ]\\]\'^\\n<xv  l)ut  that  ornniiualidcd  ], raise  and  approbation. 
Had  Arnold  hi-en  killed  instead  ol"  Afontiioincrv,  no  words 
wuidd  have  heen  too  stroiij^  to  ha\  e  e.\pre^^e(l  the  conimen- 
diition  of  liis  country. 

Sir  (luy  (^arletou  treated  the  prisoners  he  liad  captured 
with  u'nat  kiiMlness.  IMontu^onierv  had  been  a  fellow  soldier 
with  him  in  the  JJritish  army,  and  both  had  been  present  at 
the  storminiz;of  (>>nebee  in  J7.j1».  J.earning-  by  aconinumi- 
cation  from  Arisold  that  Monti^-omery  had  n])on  his  person, 
when  he  I'ell,  a  wateh  which  the  wi(h)\vof  this  i;'allant  soldic  r 
desired  to  obtain,  he  sent  it  to  her  throui;'h  the  American 
commander.'  The  ijallantry  of  Alont^'omei-y  and  Arnokl; 
the  death  of  one  and  the  severe  wound  of  the  other,  created 
a  |»rofound  sensati»)ii  tliruu^hout  the  United  Colonies.  As 
they  had  been  joined  as  iirst  and  second  in  comnnind,  and 
as  each  luid  i'alit'U  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  their  names 
were  associated  iogethei-,  and  both  were  for  the  time  the 
popular  idols.' 

1.  "  Jloiittrimii'ry  liiid  a  wntcli  on  liis  person  wliicli  ^U's.  Moiit^'oniory  was  very 
(li'sirous  of  olitiiiniii;;.  She  uiiuU'  licr  wish  known  to  Aniolil,  wli  >  t^eiit  wonl  Ik 
Ciirlclon  lliiil  luiy  sinii  would  hu  luiid  Ibr  it.  earli'lon  iinni(><UiU('ly  sont  tlie  \nitcli 
to  Arnold,  iind  ri'iusi'd  to  rocuivo  iinytliiiig  ill  ivlurn."—Lijiisuiu  a  Field  llouk  of 
JUniliil.on,  Vol.  I. p.  ^iiO. 

12.  As  one  cviilcnix'  of  this  tl'o  Tennsylynnia  conunitlro  of  safety  in  >rnrfli. 
177(1,  fitted  ont  a  sloo)!  of-wiir,  and  ninncil  lief'Tlic  .^^lnl;,'onl(•ry,''  and  a  (liutliii,' 
battery  wliii'li   they  named  " 'I'lio  Arnold."— .flw;.  .Irf///ir»-,  l/Zi  >'.,  Vul.  V,)).7M. 

.\\f>Q  Oruliou  of  lir.  Miiith  huloro  Congress,  as  ibllows: 

ICxtracl  I'roni  ".\n  orulinn  in  memory  of  General  >[ontKomery,  and  of  the  OfTu'ers 
and  Soldiers  who  fell  with  him  neeembor  iil.-'t,  177.'),  before  Qnebeek  ;  drawn  np 
(and  delivered  February,  177(1,)  at  tl.c  drsiro  of  the  Uonorable  (oulinental  Con- 
tjiess,  by  William  Smith,  D.  ]).,  Provost  of  the  College  and  Academy  of  Thiladei- 
phia."— ^l»i.  -■In7(('i".s,  \lh  S.,  Vol.  IV,  pii.  ^'~'\  ]77('i. 

After  siieaking  of  Montgomery  in  the  liighest  terms,  the  orator  says  : 

"  Leaving  him,  therefore,  for  a  while— ulas,  too  short  a  while— to  enjoy  tlio  noblest 
of  all  triumphs,  the  a])plaus'-  "  his  country,  and  tlie  conscious  testimony  of  ]iis 
own  luart,  let  us   inquire  afte  other  band  of  lirave  and  hardy  men,  who  are 

stemming  rapid  rivers,  ascending  pathless  numntains,  traversing  unpeopled  des- 
erts, and  hastening  tlirough  deep  moias.ses  and  gloomy  woods  to  meet  him  in 
Bceues  of  anothci  issue. 


Ills    rATIlIOTlSM    AND    HIS   TUEASON. 


87 


Arnold,  tlioiii^li  ('(Uif'ii'j;]  to  tli(>  liuspitiil  witli  liis  woniid, 
and  siMTouiidcd  with  every  iiiini^iiiuMc  ditliculty,  liud  im 
tlunif^lit  of  giviiii^'  11].  the  eiitcrjjrisc.  With  ii  I'lirco  less  hy 
halt"  than  the  _y;ivi'ri>oii  <it'  (^uchcc.  he  kept  ii[»  the  l)l<H'ivii(lr. 
(lenend  AVoc)>t('r.  then  in  ciimiiiaiid,  writes  t(»  Couiijress, 
Fehriiary  tburteeiith:  "(Jeiiend  Aniuld  has,  in  aiii<»:^tsiir 
jirisin^'  lujinner,  kept  u|>  the  hloekadr  of  (^)iu'hi'('.  and  tliai 
with  half  the  number  of  the  iMKMiiy."  And  on  the  twentv- 
lilth  of  l'\-hni!iry,  he  writes  to  "Wasliini^ton.  saving-:  "(li-ii- 
eral  Arnuhl,  to  his  great  honor,  kept  np  the;  l)K)eka(k!  with 

"  PeKcrts  ill  viiin 


Opjiosert  tlicir  roursc,  ntifl  dcepriipaciims  IIoim1>;, 
And  moiinlaiii.s  in  wliose  jiiw.s  ik'stnictidii  kti'i'i  '1, 
llmi^icr  unci  Un\~Ariiii>iiaii  shon's  iiml  siurni- 1 
(Ifiicr  ill  tliL'ii'  view,  nml  i,'lory  yet  nniiMiclu'il. 
'I'licy  liclil  tlicir  lisirless  wiiy— oli!  v|rfnj,Mli  i.l  iiiiii.l 


.■\linii>t  iiliui;;htv  in  soviTe  cxtifinci 


■Tlcinisu 


This  prMisc  WHS  imiil  to  (on  tliniisiixl  Iioincs,  snstiiinini,'  every  clangor, 'ii  a  rp- 
Ileal  to  llieir  own  eoiintry,  iiiid  is  eortaiiily  ilii",  >o  far  as  lier.i'Mi  i>  eoiicerneil.  to 
K•■'^  tliiiii  a  teiitli  part  of  the  nuuil.er.  iiiau-liiiiL,'  tliroii'^h  enual  dilliciillies  ai;aiii--l  a 
eiipiial  of  a  liostile  eoiinliy. 

ICven  tlic  iimreh  of  Ildunil'al  overtlie  .l/;<.».  so  niiicli  ecloliratcd  in  history  'allow- 
iiif;  tor  the  disparity  ui  nuiiihers,)  lias  iiotliing  in  it  of  superior  merit  to  llio  niuridi 
of  Arnold;  and  in  many  eiieliin-timees  iliere  is  ii  most  striliin^  siinilitude.  'I'he 
lonaer  had  to  eiKMiunter  the  rapid  Jilioiic  :  the  latter  the  more  rajUd  KeiineheeU, 
lhioUL!h  an  iiiiineiise  leiiirtli  cd' eounlry.  'J'he  former,  when  he  rame  to  ipiit  the 
liver,  found  his  farther  pas>aL'o  harreil  hy  mountains,  reariie^'  their  snowy  erests  to 
the  >ky,  rnvrsi'd,  wild,  uneultivated.  This  was  also  the  ease  with  the  latter,  whoso 
troops,  oarryilig  tlioir  boats  and  bayigauo,  were  ol)lii,'ed  ti  cross  and  rocross  the 
sMiiie  mountains  sundry  times.  At  the  loot  of  the  mountains  Hk!  former  was  de- 
serted by  three  thousand  of  his  army,  dc-pondinj,'  at  the  leiiLdh  of  tiie  wiy,  mid 
I'rrilied  at  the  hideous  view  of  those  stu|iendons  lii^i-ht.-i.  which  they  eiiiisi<lcred  as 
impassable,  ni  like  eireuinstanees,  aliout  a  third  i.art  of  the  army  of  the  latter, 
dc;  rted,  shall  1  say,  or  use  the  more  courteous  laiiHUiigo,  "roturiicd  hoiiie.''  The 
iiiareli  of  the  lormer  was  aliout  iwelve  hundred  miles  in  live  months.  'I'lie  Vir- 
ginia and  I'ennsylvaiiia  rillo  eompauies  belonijini,'  to  the  latter,  iiiclu  liie,'  'lieir 
liist  ir.areh  from  tlie'r  own  liahitations  to  <"amlnidi;i',  and  tlionee  l>  tiueijcc, 
iiinrchod  near  the  same  distaiieo  in  about  throe  moiuhs, 

resides  tliese  rifle  companies,  Anioll's  corps  consisted  of  about  five  liuudred 
New  luijiland  trfiops,  who  sustained  all  the  l'ati.i,'iies  of  tlie  worst  part  of  the  march 
liy  land  and  water,  with  the  utmost  fortitude.  And  <ien.  MontLjomery,  ever 
ready  to  do. justice  to  merit,  haviiii;  joined  them  before  (inebeek,  [.'ives  their  com- 
iiciicler  and  tliem  this  character  :  '" 'f  hey  are  an  exceedingly  line  body  of  men  : 
irnired  to  fauKue,  with  a  style  of  discipline  amoiii;  tin  m  much  superior  to  what  I 
liii\e  lieeii  used  to  see  this  i/anii  uiyii  lie,  liimsolf,  i.s  active,  intelliLjeiil  anil  eiiter- 
pri>iiig." 


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88 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Bucli  a  handful  of  men  that  the  story  when  told  hereafter 
will  scarcely  he  helieved." ' 

Washington,  writing  to  Congress,  says:  "It  (the  hlock- 
adc)  exhibits  fresh  proofs  of  Arnold's  ability  and  persever- 
ance in  the  midst  of  difHcnlties."* 

On  the  first  of  April,  AVooster  arrived  from  Montreal 
with  reinforcements,  and  assumed  the  command.  The  day 
after,  Arnold,  only  partially  recovered  from  his  wound,  re- 
ceived a  serious  injury  while  visiting  the  outposts,  by  tlie 
fall  of  his  horse.  When  somevdiat  recovered,  being  in 
favor  of  more  active  measures  than  General  Wooster 
adopted,  and  imjiatient  of  inaction,  he  asked  and  obtained 
leave  to  rejwrt  at  Montreal,  where,  npon  his  arrival,  ho 
took  command.  In  a  letter  to  (icneral  Schuyler,  dated 
April  20th,  he  explains  his  reasons  for  going  to  Montreal, 
and  adds,  "  had  I  been  able  to  take  av.y  active  ])art,  I  should 
by  no  means  have  left  camp,  but  as  General  Wooster  did 
not  think  proper  to  consult  me,  I  am  convinced  I  shall  be 
more  useful  hero  than  in  camp,  and  he  \  er}'  readily  granted 
me  loiive  of  absence,"'  AVith  the  d<:>parture  of  Arnold 
from  the  camp,  all  vigorous  efforts  in  the  field  to  capture 
Quebec  and  unite  the  Canadas  with  the  United  Colonies 
terminated.  Had  the  efforts  of  Washington,  Schuyler, 
Montgomery,  and  Arnold  been  successful — had  the  Can- 
adas joined  the  American  Union — what  changes  in  history 
would  have  ensued!  Possibly  the  power  of  the  free  States 
thus  strengthened  might  have  prevented  the  extension  of 
slavery,  ami  slavery  itself  might  possibly  have  been  abol- 
ished without  the  great  civil  war. 

1.  Am.  Archives,  4th  8.,  Vol,  IV,  !>.  090  ;  ditto,  p.  M03. 

2.  Spailis'  WritiiiKS  of  Washington,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  270. 

;!.  "  Arnolil  was  discontented  at  not  beini?  perniiited  to  continue  his  authority  at 
a  scai5ou  when  he  might  have  struck  a  daring  and  cll'cctual  hluw. "—liUnidudion  to 
Journal  of  Charka  Carroll,  qf  Carrollton,  p.  15. 


CHAPTER   Y. 

KETREAT  FROM  CANADA. 

"  I  am  content  to  bo  (lie  last  man  who  quits  this  country,  and  fall  so  that  my  coun- 
try may  rise."— Am M  to  Sultivan. 

The  Affair  at  the  Cedars  — Visit  of  Fkanklin,  Chasb  and  Carroll  to 
AiJNoi.D's  QUARTEKS— The  Seizure  of  Goods  in  Montreal— Trial  of  Colonel 

HaZEN  by  COUUTMaKTIAL— CoNTROVEItSY  BETWEEN  ARNOLD  AND  THE  COURT 

—Charges  Against  Arnold  by  Lieut.  Col.  John  Brown— Action  thereon  by 

WoaSTEU,  SCHUVLEK  AND  GATES— CHARGES  DECLARED  BY  CONOHESS  TO  BE  CRLEL 

AND  Groundless— Arnold's  Ketreat  from  Canada. 


John  Maushai.l,  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States,  in  his 

lite  of  AVaohington,  s])eakiiii^   of  the  e.xpedition    against 

(Quebec,  and  sunnniii"^  up  the  case  ■with  judicial  calmness 

and  accuracy,  says: 

"  It  was  a  bold,  and  at  one  time  promised  to  be  a  succcsisful,  effort  to 
annex  this  extensive  province  to  the  United  Colonies.  The  disposition 
of  the  Canadians  favored  Ihc  nicaMire,  and  had  Qnebf  c  fallen,  there  is 
reason  to  believe  the  colony  would  have  entered  cordially  into  the  Union. 
Had  Arnold  been  able  to  reach  Quebec  a  few  days  sooner,  or  to  cross  the 
St.  Lawrence  on  his  first  arrival,  or  had  the  gallant  ]\Iontgomery  not 
fallen  in  Ihe  assault  on  the  thirty  first  of  December,  it  is  probable  the 
the  expedition  would  have  been  crowned  with  complete  success.  Hut  the 
radical  causes  of  the  failure  were  the  lateness  of  the  season  when  the 
trocps  were  assembled,  a  deficit  in  the  preparation,  and  still  more,  the 
sliortneae  of  the  term  for  which  the  ineu  were  enlisted."  ' 

The  means  placed  at  the  command  of  the  officers  never 

approached  the  estimates  which  they  made  as  adequate  to 

accomplish  the  result.     Arnold,  in  one  of  liis  letters,  says  : 

I.  Marshall's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  I,  p.  OG. 

(89) 


90 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


"We  labor  luuler  almost  as  man}'  difHcultles  as  the  Tsi-ael- 
ites  did  of  old — obli<i;cd  to  make  brick  without  straw."  Yet 
lie  was  the  last  to  alnuuloii  the  hope  of  success. 

In  A]>ril,  177G,  the  commissioners  ai)pointe(l  ])y  C\)n^rc.5B 
to  visit  Canada,  consistin"^  of  JJenjamin  Franklin,  Samuel 
Chase,  and  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  arrived  at  the 
camp  of  General  Arnold,  at  Montreal.  The  Rev.  John 
Carroll,  brother  of  Charles,  and  the  iirst  Koman  Catholic 
Arch-liishop  of  the  United  States,  accompanied  the  party, 
with  the  ho])e  of  enlistinjj^  the  liomaii  Catholic  cler<,'y  in 
Canada  on  the  side  of  the  United  Colonies."  Carroll,  in 
his  Journal,  says  :  "We  were  received  by  (reneral  Arnold 
in  the  most  })olite  and  friendly  manner,  conducted  to  head- 
([uartei's,  where  a  genteel  comjiauy  of  ladies  aiul  gentlemen 
had  assembled  to  welcome  our  arrival."  A  salute  bv  the 
cannon  of  the  citadel  was  tired.  "We  su])ped  at  the  Gen- 
eral's." ' 

l>enjamin  Franklin,  then  seventy  years  of  age,  honond 
and  venerated  as  a  sage  and  patriot  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic,  Chase,  and  Carroll,  of  Carrolton,  at  BU])per,  the 
guests  of  Benedict  Arnold,  grace  being  said  by  him  who 
was  the  Iirst  Itoman  Catholic  Arch-]»ishop  of  the  United 
States,  would  constitute  a  group  for  the  artist.  Modern 
reporting  had  not  then  been  invented,  otherwise  we  might 
have  had  the  discussion  of  the  Canadian  cami)aign  bv  these 
distinguished  men. 

In  the  S]>ring  of  1770,  a  ]iarty  of  about  four  hundred 
Ajuericans,  led  by  Colouel  IJedell,  under  the  orders  of 
Arnold,  were  holding  a  fortified  position  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  some  thirty-six  miles  above  ^Fontreal, 
on  a  point  called  "The  Cedars."  In  ^[ay,  Cai>tain  Foster, 
of  the  British  ariuy,  came  down  the  river  from  a  [>lace  near 


1.  Journal  of  Charles  Carroll,  p.  30,  Xoto. 

2.  Juunial  of  Cliarlos  Carroll,  p.  UJ,  Maryland  Ills.  Society  Centennial  Memorial. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS    TREASON. 


91 


where  ()^dcnsbnri,'1i  now  is,  with  about  one  hmulred  and 
tit'ty  English  and  Ounadiansand  live  liiindred  Indians,  under 
the  celebrated  Brant. 

On  hearing  of  their  a]»i»r(»a('li,  not  waiting  for  tlioir 
arrival,  Colonel  Bedell  fled  to  Montreal  to  obtain,  as  lie 
said,  reinforcements.'  lie  left  the  ]»ost  under  the  coni- 
inand  of  ^lajor  JJiittertield,  who,  without  making  any 
ftlicient  defense,  was  frightened  by  the  threats  of  Indian 
barbarities  to  surrender.  Both  Butterlield  and  Bedell  were 
afterwards  tried  by  court-martial  and  cashiered  for  their 
conduct  in  this  alfair."  Arnold,  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  sent  Major  Sherburne,  with  one 
liundred  and  forty  men,  to  strengthen  the  ])ost,  and  j)re- 
:  'red  to  tbllow  himself  !Major  Jjuttei'lield,  making  no 
-gorous  defense,  surrendered  the  post  the  very  day  iSher- 
burne  would  have  arrived. 

As  the  latter  approached  the  Cedars,  ignorant  of  the  dis- 
graceful surrender,  he  was  caught  in  an  ambuscade  set  for 
him  by  the  Indians,  and  although  surprised,  he  and  his  men 
fouijht  irallantly  until  thev  wore  entirely  surrounded  ami 
( ivcrpowered  b\"  numbers.  Fifty-two  were  killed,  mnny  after 
tlicv  had  ceased  to  resist.  Arnold,  indignant  at  Butter- 
lield's  surrender,  and  at  the  cruelties  and  barbarities  per})e- 
trated  upon  the  soldiers,  and  on  the  way  to  their  relief,  has- 
tened rjipidly  towards  the  scene  of  action  to  revenge  the 
dead  and  re-take  the  post.  Beaching  St.Anne,  at  the  west- 
ern end  of  the  island  of  Montreal,  in  advance  of  his  boats,  ho 
was  in  time  to  see  the  savages  conveying  their  prisoners 
from  an  island,  almost  three  miles  distant,  to  the  main  land, 
r.ut  his  boats,  not  having  yet  arrived,  he  was  Avithout  the 
means  of  instant  pursuit.  Dispatching  messengers  to  hurry 
up  the  boats,  he  sent  a  friendly  chief  of  the  Caughiuiwaga 

1.    Sec  Letters  of  Sfcssrs.  Chnsc  nnd  (arroU,  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  688. 
'.;.    Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vo).  I, p.  717, 


92 


LIFE  OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


i      '1^ 


tribe  to  the  liostile  party,  demanding  the  surrender  of  tlie 
prisoners,  and  declaring  if  tlic  Indians  injured  tliera,  he 
would  destroy  their  villages,  and  pursue  and  put  to  the  sword 
any  one  who  fell  into  his  hands.  AVhile  he  was  waiting  for 
liis  boats  to  come  up,  the  Indian  chief  returned,  bringing 
the  reply:  that  they  would  not  give  up  their  prisoners,  and 
that  if  Arnold  attempted  to  follow  and  attack  the  British 
and  Indians,  the  Indians  would  immediately  put  the  pris- 
oners to  death. 

Without  a  moments'  delay,  Arnold  sprang  into  the  boats 
which  were  now  arriving,  and  proceeded  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible to  the  island  where  the  captives  had  been  confined. 
All  had  been  removed  except  five,  and  these  had  been  robbed 
of  their  clothing,  and  were  left  nearly  naked,  and  starving. 
The  others,  except  two  who  were  too  feeble  to  endure  the 
jinirney,  had  been  taken  to  Quince  Chlcnsc,'  the  two  sick 
ones  had  been  cruelly  murdered.  Arnold  pushed  directly 
for  the  enemy  as  rapidly  as  ])ossible.  As  night  approached, 
his  flotilla  of  boats  neared  the  place  where  the  enemy  were 
encamped,  entrenched  and  fortified,  and  he  was  fired  upuu 
from  the  shore.  As  it  was  now  dark,  and  the  i:)Ositiun  of 
t!ie  enemy  not  known,  he  retired  to  St.  Anne  to  wait  for 
daylight;  a  council  was  held,  and  it  was  determined  to  at- 
tack in  the  niorniny;  as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see. 
At  two  o'clock  at  niij^ht  a  fla<j:  came  from  the  British  com- 
uiander,  bringing  a  cartel  signed  by  Major  Sherburne,  pro- 
posing that  as  many  British  soldiers  should  be  delivered  up 
as  there  were  American  prisoners;  but  that  the  Americans 
should  as  soon  as  exchanged  return  to  their  homes,  and 
never  again  bear  arms  against  the  British;  hostages  of 
American  officers  were  to  bo  sent  to  Quebec,  and  held 
until  the  agreement  was  fully  executed;  and  Arnold  was 
distinctly  told  that  if  lie  refused  to  ratify  this  agreement, 
the  savages  would  put  all  the  prisoners  to  death,  and  Captain 


J. 


1  ,  .ifl.ji!!!*^ 


ins   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


93 


Foster  declared  his  inability  to  prevent  tlie  execution  of  this 
terrible  threat.  It  was  a  fearful  dilemma.  Arnold  was  ex- 
tremely averse  from  enteriuf;  into  this  as^recment,  and  he  had 
a  force  adequate  to  punish  the  barbarities  alre.idy  perpetrated ; 
l)ut  lie  could  not  permit  the  prisoners  to  be  sacriiicod,  and 
he  finally,  to  save  their  lives,  signed  the  agreement,  after  it 
liad  been  so  modified  that  the  exchange  of  prisoners  should 
be  on  equal  terms.  "I  dispatched  Lieutenant  Parker," 
says  Arnold,  "  to  acquaint  Captain  Foster  that  I  would 
enter  into  articles  to  exchange  prisoners  on  equal  terms — 
which  if  he  refused,  mv  determination  was  to  attack  him 
immediately;  and  if  our  pi'isoners  were  murdered,  to  sac- 
rifice every  soul  which  fell  into  our  hands."  *  Arnold  says, 
in  his  letter  to  the  committee  of  Congress:  "Words  can- 
not express  my  feelings,  *  *  t  )rn  by  conflicting  passions 
of  revenge  and  humanity;  a  sufiicient  force  to  take  ample 
revenge,  raging  for  action,  urged  me  on,  on  one  hand;  and 
humanity  for  five  hundred  unhappy  wretches,  who  were  on 
the  point  of  being  sacrificed  if  our  vengeance  was  not 
<lelayed,  plead  strongly  on  the  other."  ' 

Foster  yielded  to  the  modification,  and  sent  the  agree- 
ment back  signed;  but  Congress,  regarding  an  agreement 
thus  extorted  by  a  threat  of  murdering  prisoners  of  war  as 
not  binding,  refused  to  sanction  it;  while  "Washington  was 
inclined,  though  reluctantly,  to  execute  it,  because  it  had 
been  entered  into  in  due  form.  It  was  the  subject  of  some 
correspondence  between  AVashington  and  the  British  oflficors, 
but  the  latter  finally  dropt  the  subject.  Arnold  returned  to 
Alontreal,  and  it  soon  became  quite  clear  that  the  forces  of 
the  colonies  would  soon  be  compelled  to  retire  from  Canada. 
The  letters  of  the  commissioners  who  had  been  sent  by  con- 
gress to  that  province,  give  a  graphic  picture  of  the  condi- 
tion of  the  army.      Short  enlistments,  want  of  supplies, 

1.  Am.  Archives.  4th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  505-6. 

2.  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  50C. 


94 


LIFK   OF   BENKDICT   AUXOLD. 


i::;.. 


micurroiit  paper  nioncv,  and  tlic  tcrrilile  rava<i;o.s  of  disease, 

espeeially  of  small  ])ox,  had    liiially  broken  the  spirit  of 

the  hrave  men  who  had  fought  no  desperately  at  Quebec. 

The  commissioners  say: 

"The  mmy  is  in  a  distivssefl  condition,  and  is  in  want  of  tho  nio-t 
nocossary  articles — moat,  broad,  toiitn,  shoos,  stockings,  pliirt-*,  etc. 
'riioy  say  they  wore  oViligod  to  soizo  Ity  force  flour  to  supply  tho  garrison 
with  broad.  But  inon  with  anus  in  tln'ir  hands,  will  not  starve  when 
provisions  can  be  obtained  by  force.*  Soldiers  without  pay,  without  dis- 
cipline, living  from  hiind  to  mouth,  grumbling  for  tiieir  piiy;  and  when 
thoyget  it,  it  will  not  buy  the  nocossarios  of  life.  Your  military  chest 
contains  eleven  thousand  pap  t  dollars,  and  you  are  indebted  to  your 
soldiers  treble  that  sum,  and  to  the  inhabitants  about  fifteen  thou- 
sand. 

Mcanwliile,  Enghmd  had  been  sending  troops  from  Ire- 
land, Knirland  and  Germany,  amonnting  to  some  thirteen 
thousand  men;  gathering  strength  with  tlie  purpose  not 
(tnly  to  drive  the  Americans  out  of  Canada,  hut  to  follow 
hy  a  powerful  invasion  of  New  York.  The  American 
troops  under  Thomas,  who  had  sncceeded  AVooster  in  com- 
mand, were  driven  from  near  (Quebec,  and  pursned  up  t!;e 
St.  Liiwrence  to  the  Sorel,  wliere  Sullivan  succeeded  to  the 
command. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  June,  Arnold  wnjtc  to  Gcjicral  Sul- 
livan, saying: 

"  T\\e  junction  of  the  Canadas  with  the  colonies  is  now  at  an  end. 
Lot  us  quit  them  and  socui(>  our  own  country  before  it  is  too  late.  There 
will  be  more  honor  in  making  a  safe  retreat  than  in  hazarding  a  battle 
against  such  superiority;  and  which  will  be  attended  with  the  loss  of  men, 
artillery,  etc.,  and  the  only  pass  to  our  country.  *  *  *  Those  argu- 
ments are  not  urged  by  fear  for  my  poi-sonal  safety;  I  am  content  to  be  the 
last  man  who  quits  this  country,  and  fall,  so  that  my  country  may  rise. 
But  let  us  not  f  Ul  altogether."  * 

Sullivan  retreated,  Arnold  still  Iiolding  on  to  Montreal, 
that  being  the  last  place  giNcn  nj),  and  then  he  made  a  mas- 

1.  Am.  Archives,  4Ui  S.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  .'■1S8--90. 

2.  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  1104. 


IIIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


95 


terly  I'ctrciit  to  St.  Jolins.  After  seeing  nil  the  luoii  cm- 
lijirk,  and  the  hist  hoat  leave  tiie  sliore,  lie,  with  a  siii<;le  at- 
tendant, mounted  his  horse  and  rode  hack  to  reconnoitre 
the  ]»ritish  arinv,  advancinu^  under  Ihiriroyne.  C'oiniiiijj  in 
sii^dit  of  tlie  advancing  coliinuis,  lie  sati.stied  himself  of  their 
iinmhers  and  character,  then  he  wheeled  his  horse  just  in 
time  to  csca])e,  and  i^allo|>ini^  ra|>i<ll_v  hack  to  the  shore  of 
the  lake,  strippin*;  his  horse  of  saddle  and  hridle,  the  ani- 
mal was  shot  to  prevent  liis  fallini;^  into  the  hands  of  the 
t'liemv.  AVithliis  own  hands  he  pushed  his  hoat  from  the 
>liore.  and  leapini^  into  it  he  was  the  last  man  to  leave 
Canada.  J)arkness  was  now  a])j)roacliin<;,  and  it  is  not  dif- 
ficult to  imaijine  the  sad  review  of  the  incidents  of  the  cam- 
pai:^n  which  must  liave  crowded  his  memory,  as  liis  hoat 
was  ur<;('d  on  in  pursuit  of  his  retreating  soldiers,  lie 
overtook  them  during  the  night  at  Islc-aux-Xoix, 

(Jeneral  Sullivan,  writing  to  Washington  June  H)th,  says: 
"(icneral  Arnold  pulled  up  the  hridges  on  the  road  from 
Montreal,  from  which  ])laco  lie  made  a  very  ])rudent  and 
judicious  retreat  with  the  enemy  close  at  liis  heels."'  lie 
hastened  on  and  piroceeded  to  confer  with  General  Schuyler, 
with  whom  all  through  the  campaign  he  had  kept  up  a  con- 
stant and  most  friendly  correspondence.  Schuyler  had  heen 
I'amiliar  M'ith  all  his  difficulties,  and  that  officer's  sympathy 
with  his  dangers  had  heen  often  and  m(»;  v  kindly  expressed. 
Here  he  also  met  (Jeneral  Gates,  with  whom  he  then  had 
the  most  friendly  relations,  as  appears  from  the  following, 
as  well  as  many  other  letters  which  passed  between  them: 

"CiiAMBLAY,  May  :^lst,  177G. 
"  My  DKAii  Geneiiai.:  I  am  a  tlionsaiul  times  obliged  to  you  for  your 
kind  letter  of  the  od  of  April,  of  ■which  I  have  a  most  prate  sense.  I 
shall  be  ever  happy  in  your  friendship  and  society;  and  hope,  with  you, 
that  our  next  winter-quarters  will  Ijc  more  ayreeable,  though  I  must 
u«.ubt  it,  if  attairs  go  as  ill  with  you  as  here.    Neglected  by  Congress 

1.    .\m.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol,  VI,  p.  IIW. 


4 


96 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   AIINOLD. 


,  1  Y   ■  i-i: 


Ijolow;  iiinclifil  with  nvcry  want  horo;  distrossed  with  tl>o  smallpox; 
want  of  Gcnf'niJH  ami  (lincipliiip  inoiir  Army — which  may  ratlit'rbe  ralltul 
a  (fn-at  rabhh' — our  iato  iiiiliai)py  n'tn-at  from  Quehcrk,  and  loss  of  tho 
Cedars;  onr  credit  and  roputation  lost,  an<l  proat  part  of  tho  country; 
and  a  powerful  foreign  enemy  advancing  upon  uh;  aro  ho  many  ditticul- 
ties  we  cannot  Hurmor.nt  them.  My  wlmlo  thoughtH  are  now  bent  on 
making  a  safe  retreat  out  of  this  country;  however,  I  hope  wo  shall  not 
be  obliged  to  leave  it  until  W(?  have  had  one  bout  more  for  the  luniour  of 
America.  I  think  we  can  make  a  stand  at  Islo-aux-Noix,  and  keep  the 
T,ake  this  summer  from  an  invasion  that  way.  Wo  have  little  to  fe;ir; 
but  I  am  heartily  chaRrined  to  think  we  have  lo^t  in  one  month  all  the 
immortal  Montgomery  was  a  whole  campaign  in  gaining,  together  with 
our  credit,  and  many  men  and  an  amazing  sum  of  money.  'J'he  commis- 
sioners this  day  leave  us.  as  ourgooil  fortune  has  long  since;  but  as  Miss, 
like  most  other  Misses,  is  tickle,  an  1  often  changes,  I  still  hope  for  her 
favors  again;  and  that  we  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  dying  or  living 
happy  together. 

In  every  vicissitude  of  fortune,  believe  me.  with  great  esteem  and 
friendship,  my  dear  (Jeneral,  your  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

"  Benedict  Aunold. 
"  To  General  G.\tes. 

"P.  S.    For  particulars  respecting  us  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the 

honourable  Commissioners. 

"B.  A."' 

General  Gates  had  lately  been  pout  by  Congress  to  take 
command  of  the  army  in  jS^jrthern  New  York,  find  Schuyler, 
Gates  and  Arnold  now  proceeded  to  Crown  Point,  to  whicli 
place  Snllivan  had  retreated.  On  consultation  it  was  de- 
cided to  abandon  Crown  Point  and  retreat  to  Ticondoroga, 
an  act  which  M-as  at  first  severely  condemned,  but  in  the 
end  approved  l>y  all. 

AVhile  here  Arnokl  was  involved  in  difficulties,  growing 
out  of  thu  seizure  of  certain  goods  from  the  merchants  of 
;N[ontrcal,  for  the  use  of  the  army,  which  have  been  made 
the  basis  of  attacks  upon  his  integrity.  The  facts  are  here 
set  forth  at  some  length,  so  that  a  just  conclusion  may  be 
arrived  at  in  regard  to  the  charges  growing  out  of  the  trans- 
action. 


1.    Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  CIO. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


97 


The  condition  of  affairs  at  tl»c  time  those  j^oods  were  tak- 
en appears  from  a  letter  written  by  Arnold  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  Congress,  dated  June  second,  in  wliich  he  says  :  '*! 
am  making  every  possible  preparation  to  secure  our  retreat. 
I  have  secured  six  tons  of  lead,  ball,  shot  and  mcrcliaiidi/.e. 
The  inliabitants  I  have  not  as  yet  taken  hold  of;  I  intend 
to  begin  to-niDrrow.  Everything  is  in  the  greatest  confu- 
sion. Xot  one  contractor,  commissar}'  or  quarter-master.  I 
am  obliged  to  do  the  duty  of  all."' 

It  is  not  surprising  that  confusion  and  irregularity  should 
exist.  On  the  sixth  of  June  he  writes  to  Schuyler:  "1 
have  received  your  instructions  respecting  the  tories  and 
their  ellects;  most  of  the  former  had  absconded —great  ])iirt 
of  the  latter  is  secured.  I  have  sent  to  St.  Johns  a  quanti- 
ty of  goods  for  use  of  the  army,  some  bought,  some  seized."* 

The  goods  were  seized  in  accordance  with  orders  fur  the 
use  of  the  army;  their  seizure  is  referred  to  in  the  above 
letter,  and  the  circumstances  attending  such  seizure  were 
fully  and  promptlj'  reported  by  Arnold  to  Generals  Schuy- 
ler and  Sullivan,  They  were  sent  to  (^hamblay  under  the 
care  of  Major  Scott,  who,  on  his  arrival  there,  was  ordered  to 
repair  to  Sorel,  the  guard  had  been  ordered  to  return,  and  the 
goods  were  to  be  delivered  to  Colonel  Ilazen  to  be  stored. 
Ilazen  refused  to  receive  or  care  for  them,  and  in  conse- 
quence the  boxes  in  which  they  were  stored  were  broken 
open,  and  tlie  goods  plundered.  What  were  left  were  sent 
to  St.  Johns,  and  delivered  to  one  McCarthy,  who  received 
what  was  left  of  them,  by  orders  of  General  Sullivan. 
Arnold's  own  account  of  the  transaction  is  given  in  his  re- 
l)orts  to  Generals  Schuyler  and  Sullivan.' 

1.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  1C5. 

2.  Am.  Archives.  4th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  925. 

:J.  ".=t.  Johns,  Tunc  13th,  177n. 

"  Dear  General:— I  wrote  you  a  few  days  since  from  Montreal  that  I  had  seized 
a  parcel  of  goods  for  the  use  of  the  army  by  particular  orders  from  the  Commis- 

7 


98 


LIFE   OF    BKN EDICT    ARNOLD. 


i! 


Clmi'ges  wore  made  l>y  Genenil  Aniold  nufiiinst  Colonel 
llii/.i'ii  Ibr  liis  refusal  to  receive  and  take  care  of  tliene 
goods.     A  coiirtiiiurtinl   was  ordered  for  liis  trial.      The 

slonore  of  ConnrcHS.  Our  Iiiirry  nixl  cfniriislDri  \va«  so  irrrat  when  the  Kooflswcre 
rect'lvcil,  it  wns  iiiiiiDSNililo  lo  tHk(>  r  (uiillciilar  hccipuiiI  of  tlu'in;  cviry  iimii x 
iiamu  wuM  iniirkol  on  liin  i>artii'iilar  |iii('ku.(o.  with  ini  ton  to  tiiku  |iartioiihir 
iiccouiil  of  llu'iii  III  rliniiilihi  or  SI.  Join  I,  where  the  »(o()<ls  i.-  onlercil  to  he  sloret). 
Major  Sri)t:  wiik  Heiil  with  Ihcm.  will  (Icrs  to  have  theiii  ircil  uiiiler  lli  •  care  of 
•  'oloiu'l  ll'tziii,  wlio  coiuiiiuiKli'il  at  {Immlily,  On  his  arrival  there  he  n-ei'lved 
orders  from  General  Su  l.vnn  to  repair  to  Soril.  Col.  JIdi'-n  refused  taking  the  Koods 
Into  Rtore,  or  taking  charge  ()f  them.  They  were  heaped  In  pileB  on  the  hank  of 
the  river,  (oloiu'l  llnzi  n  llnally  received  thcni,  and  phuiMl  senilnels  over  them. 
Thoy  were,  however,  nenlerted  In  such  a  manner  thai  ureal  part  weie  stolen  or 
plundered.  On  reeeivltiK  tliis  intelllnence,  I  repairecl  t  >  ('l,nmli/i/.  The  (jooils  were 
sentlo.sY.  JiihiiH  hy  Cnl.  Ilnzm,  in  dilVen>nl  parcels,  all  under  the  can- of  ii  rrcnrh 
corporal;  and  Ihrouf^di  them  I  found  the  L;oods  liroken  open,  plunde  id  and  ndxed 
toKether  In  the  (,'reatest  ciiufusion,  and  ({real  part  mi.ssiuK.  Mr.  Mri miliii  ban  (ivn- 
eral  .»'i///itvi«'^  orders,  and  is  unw  leceiviiij,'  the  (joods.  I  have  senl  over  to  Titan- 
ilerofin  a  quantity  of  nails  and  >;oods,  the  pro|perty  of  'Ihiniiim  M'ltlker,  Ksip.  ami 
ordered  them  to  he  stored  there,  and  deliwred  to  his  oriler." — .liu. /Irc/i/ri.'',  I//1  .S  , 
Vol.  VI,  p.  um. 

.See  also  report  to  fJcn  SuUivnii.  as  follows  : 

"•  •  The  Junction  of  the  I'aiiailinnii  with  theColonies-nn  ohjecl  which  hrouKhl 
ns  into  this  country— is  now  at  an  end.  Let  us  quit  them,  and  secure  our  own 
country  helore  it  is  too  Inte. 

"I  here  will  he  more  honor  in  making  asafe  retreat  than  hn/ardinKahaitle  against 
such  superiority,  w  hicdi  will  donhtless  be  attended  with  the  less  of  men,  artillery, 
etc..  nnd  th«  only  pass  to  our  country. 

"  These  arguments  are  not  urged  by  fear  for  my  personal  .safety;  I  am  r'ontentto 
lie  the  last  man  who  quits  this  country,  and  fall,  so  that  my  country  rise.  Hut  let 
us  not  all  fall  altogether. 

•'T1h>  goods  1  seized  in  Montreal  &  sent  to  fhambly,  under  care  of  Major  ScoU, 
have  been  broken  open,  iilundereil  and  huddled  logetlier  in  the  greatest  confusion. 
They  were  taken  in  such  a  hurry  It  was  impo.ssihle  to  lake  jiarticular  account  of 
them.    Kach  man's  name  was  marked  on  his  jiaekaires. 

'■  When  Major  .>^cott  arrived  at  t'hambly  he  received  yourposilive  orders  to  repair 
to  Sorel;  the  gmird  was  ordered  to  return,  and  tlie  Koods  lo  I  e  delivered  lo  Colonel 
J/a;eu  to  be  stored.  He  refused  receiving  or  taking  any  cure  of  them  ;  by  which 
means,  and  Major  Scotl'g  being  ord';red  away,  the  goods  liave  been  opened  and 
plundered,  1  believe,  to  a  large  amount.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  dislii.guish 
each  man's  gooils,  or  even  .'•ettlc  with  the  proprietors.  The  goods  are  dcli\cied  to 
Mr.  Mel  iirlhy.  This  is  in  t  the  first  or  la.st  order  Colonel  Ihizeti  has  disobeyed.  I 
think  him  a  man  of  loo  much  consequence  for  the  post  he  is  in.  I  have  given  him 
orders  to  send  directly  to  .s'l.  Johns  all  the  heavy  cannon,  shot,  jowdcr  and  bnt- 
teaux,  valuable  stores,  and  the  sick. 

"  I  go  to  Montreal  immediately^  and  beg  to  have  your  orders  as?  soon  as  possible  for 
my  future  conduct. 

•'1  am,  with  respect  and  esteem,  dear  General,  yourmostobedlent,  humble  servant, 

"B.  Arnold" 
—Am.  Airhivea,  ^l.^  S.,  Vol.  V2,  p.  1105. 


IirS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


99 


important  iitid  only  witiioss  besido  liiiiipelf  to  sustain  the 
cliuri^t's  \v«H  Major  Scott,  who  was  otrered  by  General  Ar- 
nold, and  the  {•ouit  refused  to  receive  his  testiniony.  This 
decision  was  palpably  erroneous,  and  Arnold  was  naturally 
iiidi<;tiant,  and  thereupon  filed  his  protest,  sayin-^:  "As  the 
court  have  ret'nsed  acce|)tin^  my  principal  evidence,  ]\rajor 
Scott,  *  *  I  (],,  Hcdeinnly  protest  against  their  ju'oceed 
ini^s  and  reli.sal  us  un|)rece»h.'nted,  aiul  1  think  unjust."' 

Thereu])on  the  court  made  an  entry  on  their  records  in 
these  words  : 

"General  Arnold  having  offfred  a  protest  to  the  court,  for  the  entry  of 
it,  in  their  iiiinnteH,  which  apiirars  to  tiicm  illej^al,  iililn'ral  and  ii'ijfen- 
tlcnianlike  ;  for  these  reawm-*  they  have  olijertrd  to  its  entry  and  i  jfiise 
the  same."  The  court  likcwiM'  directed  tiic  rrcsidi'iit  to  dt'iiiaml  sutis- 
laction  of  the  (Jeneral,  which  ho  did  in  the  following'  words: 

"Siu: 

"Ah  yon  have  evidently  called  in  question  not  only  th(>  honor,  hut  the 
.justice  of  this  court,  hy  the  illiberal  protest  you  exhilutcd.  the  court 
have  directed  me — and  as  President  of  this  court  I  deem  it  my  duty — to 
inform  you  that  you  have  drawn  upon  yoinaelf  their  just  resentment,  and 
that  nothinjr  hut  an  open  acknowledj,Mnent  of  your  error  will  in-  consid- 
ered as  satisfactory." ' 

To  which  Arnold  haufjhtily  replied:  "The  very  extraordinary  vote  of 
the  court,  and  directions  ^'iven  to  the  President,  and  his  still  nxtre  extra- 
ordinary demand,  are  in  my  opinion  ungenteel  and  indectent  retlections 
on  a  superior  otKcer;  which  the  nature  and  words  of  my  i)rotest  will  by 
no  means  justify;  nor  was  it  desijim-d  as  you  have  construed  it.  I  am 
not  very  conversant  with  courts-martial,  but  this  1  may  venture  .o  say: 
they  are  compo-ed  of  men  not  inlallible;  even  you  may  have  errcil.  Con- 
^'ress  will  judge  between  us;  to  whom  I  will  desire  the  General  to  trans- 
mit the  proceedinjf  ^  of  this  court.  'J'liis  I  cm  assure  you,  I  shall  ever  in 
public  or  private,  be  ready  to  support  the  character  of  a  man  of  honor; 
and  as  your  very  nice  and  delicate  iionor  in  youriijiprehension  is  in.jured, 
you  may  depend  as  soon  as  this  disajjreeable  service  is  at  end  (which  God 
grant  may  soon  be  the  case,)  I  will  by  no  means  withhold  from  any  gen- 
tleman of  the  court,  the  satisfaction  his  nice  sense  of  honor  may  require. 
Your  demand  I  shall  not  comply  with."  " 

1.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  1272. 

2.  Ain.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  127:5. 

3.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  127.3. 


V. 


100 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


The  court  sent  a  letter  to  General  Gates,  giving  their 
reasons  for  refusing  to  hear  the  evitlence  of  [Major  Scott, 
every  one  of  whicli  went  to  affect  l)is  credibility  and  not 
liis  competency  as  a  witness.  The  ca^^e  is  this  : — Cliarges 
were  presented  hy  General  Arnold  against  Colonel  Ilazen, 
and  the  General  offered  as  the  principal  witness  to  sustain 
the  charges,  Major  Scott  ;  the  court  refused  to  hear  the  ev- 
idence; Arnold  protests,  and  sa^'s  he  thinks  the  refusal  "  un- 
precedented and  unjust." 

Tills  language  can  hardly  be  considered  as  disrespectful, 
or  going  beyond  an  enrnest  protest:  certainly  the  court  go 
much  farther  when  they  declare  the  protest  of  their  supe- 
rior ofhcer,  "illegal,  illiberal  and  ungentleuianlike";  but 
when  the  court  goes  farther  still,  and  directs  its  president 
"to  demand  satisfaction,"  and  dictate  an  "open  acknowl- 
edgement of  error,"  as  the  only  satisfaction  the  court  will 
accept,  they  certainly  exhibit  a  strange  spectacle  of  judi- 
cial dignity.  The  answer  of  Arnold,  except  the  last  part, 
is  dignified  and  certainly  not  uncourteous.  lie  disclaims 
the  constrnctioii  they  put  upon  the  words  of  his  protest — 
reminds  them  that  courts  are  composed  of  men  who  are 
not  infallible,  and  then  says:  "Congress,  to  M'hom  the  pro- 
ceedings will  be  transmitted,  will  judge  between  us."  Had 
he  stopped  there  no  exception  could  liave  been  taken  to  Jiis 
reply;  but  the  extraordinary  resolution,  that  the  President 
"should  demand  satisfaction  of  the  General,"  were  words  to 
which  Arnold  was  ever  too  ready  to  respond :  and  his  response 
that  when  the  service  was  over  he  would  by  no  means  with- 
hold any  "satisfact'on  any  gentleman  of  the  court  might  re- 
quire," Was  undignified  and  unworthy  of  his  position. 

The  court  sent  the  pajicrs  to  Go'eral  Gates,  demanding 
tlie  arrest  of  Arnold.  Thereupon  Gates  issued  an  order 
dissolving  the  court,  and  transmitted  all  the  papers  to  Con- 
gress, with  the  following  comment: 


Ills   PATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


101 


"The  warmth  of  General  Arnold's  temper  might  possi- 
My  lead  him  a  little  farther  than  is  marked  by  the  precise 
line  of  decorum  to  be  observed  before  and  towards  a  court- 
martial.  Seeing  and  hnoioing  all  the  circumstances^  I  am 
convinced,  if  there  was  fault  on  one  side,  there  was  too 
much  acrimony  on  the  other.  I  was  obliired  to  act  dictato- 
riallj,  and  dissolve  the  court-martial  the  instant  they  de- 
manded General  Arnold  to  be  put  under  arrest.  The 
United  States  must  not  be  deprived  of  that  excellent  offi- 
cer's services  at  this  important  moment,"'  There  is  no  evi- 
dence in  the  ease  reflecting  ujion  the  integrity  of  General 
Arnold.  Mr.  Sparks,  ])erhaps  the  most  accurate  of  Amer- 
ican annalists,  and  one  who  tries  to  do  justice  to  Arnold, 
l)ut  whose  just  prejudice  against  him  for  his  treason  ren- 
dered it  difficult,  and  sometimes  impossible,  says  the  "let- 
ters of  Arnold  alone  sufficiently  prove  that  he  was  not  prac- 
ticing any  secret  manauvre  in  the  removal  of  the  goods,  or 
for  retaining  Ihem  in  his  possession." ' 

It  will  be  observed  that  General  Arnold  reports  that  the 
gcods  were  seized  by  order  of  the  commissioners.  In  this 
connection,  I  quote  a  ])aragraph  from  a  letter  from  him  to 
Chase,  one  of  the  commissioners,  dated  the  15th  of  May, 
in  which  he  says,  "  I  believe  I  know  your  sentiments  in  re- 
gard to  provisions,  and  I  shall  not  let  the  army  tHiffer.' 
*  *  *  *  Most  of  our  men  returned  from  below  naked. 
AVill  it  not  be  advisable  to  seize  on  all  such  goods  in  Mon- 
treal as  we  are  in  absolute  necessity  for,  and  jtuy  them  the 
value?    This  I  subniit  to  your  better  judgment."* 

Carroll,  of  CarroUton,  was  one  of  the  commissioners,  by 
whose  orders  Arnold  alleges  the  goods  were  seized.  He 
was  one  of  the  Board  of  War,  which  investigated  these 
charges,  as  hereafter  particularly  detailed. 

1. 


Am.  Archives.  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  12G8. 
Sparks'  Life  of  Arnold.  G9. 
Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  581. 
Am,  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol,  VI,  p.  081. 


102 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


lil.i;    |l 


If  the  allegation  of  General  Arnold,  that  the  floods  were 
seized  by  order  of  the  comniissioners  was  untrue,  Carroll 
must  have  known  it.  When,  therefore,  he  who  had  been 
in  Canada  and  knew  all  the  facts,  reports  that  these  charges 
were  "cruel  and  groundless,"  I  think  we  may  safely  concur 
in  his  conclusion.' 

This  affair  created  a  prejudice  in  the  minds  of  some 
members  of  Congress,  and  probably  contributed  to  bring 
about  the  acts  of  injustice  towards  Arnold,  which  will  be 
hei-eaftcr  detailed. 

It  was  also  the  misfortune  or  the  fault  of  Arnold,  that 
he  had  a  difficulty  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Brown. 
Their  diiierence  seems  to  have  originated  at  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga,  in  1775,  when  Brown  was  a  subordinate  of 
Colonel  Easton,  and  opposed  Arnold  in  his  claims  to  com- 
mand. Brown  went  to  Quebec  with  the  troops  under 
Montgomery,  and  after  the  death  of  that  officer,  Arnold 
wrote  a  letter  to  Congress,  cliaro-in;;  Ih'own  with  havinj; 
been  "publicly  impeached  with  plundering  the  officers' 
baggage  taken  at  Sorel,"  *  *  *  and  adding,  "Itliiik 
it  my  duty  to  say  the  above  charge  is  the  topic  of  public 
conversation  at  Montreal,"  and  he  protested  agaiust  Brown's 
promotion  until  these  matters  were  cleared  up;  and  with 
his  usual  frankness,  he  adds:  "  The  contents  of  the  enclosed 
letter  I  do  not  wish  kept  from  the  gentleman  mentioned 
therein;  the  public  interest  is  my  chief  motive  in  writing. 
I  should  despise  myself  were  I  capable  of  asserting  a  thing 
to  the  ])rejudice  of  a  gentleman  without  sufficient  reasons 
to  make  it  public."*  Brown  declared,  in  a  letter  dated  Jun(! 
26,  177G,  addressed  to  Congress,  that  tlie  charge  was  false, 
scandalous  and  malicious,  and  on  first  hearing  of  the  charge 
at  Quebec,  he  "  challenged  General  Arnold  to  prove  it," 
and  demanded  a  court  of  inquiry,  which  was  refused.' 

1.  Journal  of  Congress,  Vol.  III.  p.  19:). 

2.  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  I.  pp.  12--iO. 

3.  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  12-20. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


103 


lie  also  allojres  that  on  the  arrival  of  General  AYooster 
at  Quebec,  lie  again  (lenianded  a  court  of  inquiry,  "who 
likewise  refused."  He  made  the  same  demand  "of  the 
committee  sent  to  Canada  from  Congress,  who  refused." 
He  made,  he  says,  the  same  demand  of  General  Schuyler, 
at  Fort  George,  "  but  the  General  thought  it  inexpedient."  ' 
One  can  scarcely  help  conchuling  that  the  action  taken  b}' 
Generals  Wooster  and  Schuyler,  and  the  committee  of  Con- 
gress, who  were  on  the  ground,  must  have  been  just;  and 
that  there  were  circumstances  existing  why  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Brown's  demand  should  not  be  granted.  Schuyler 
was  eminently  a  just  num,  and  AVooster  was  not  ])articu- 
larly  friendly  to  Arnold,  and  the  committee  of  Congress, 
consisting  of  Franklin,  Chase  and  Carroll,  would  uncpies- 
tionably  have  interfered  to  correct  a  wrong,  if  satisiied  of 
ith       "stence. 

On  the  first  of  December,  177C,  Colonel  Brown  sent  a 
]»aper  to  General  Gates,  presenting  thirteen  charges  against 
(ieneral  Arnold,  expressed  in  very  intem])erate  language, 
and  asking  that  he  be  ordered  "  in  arrest  ihr  the  ioUowing 
crimes;"'  and  then  enumerated  thirteen  specitications  of 
otfenses,  running  back  to  the  affair  at  Ticonderoga,  in  J7T5, 
and  following  him  to  Cambridge,  Quebec,  and  through 
Canada.  The  language  is  violent,  and  discloses  "a warmth 
which,"  in  the  words  of  ]\Ir.  Sparks,  "indicates  too  great  a 
<legree  of  excited  feeling."  ' 

Gates  treated  Brown  with  coolness,  and  in  reply  to  re- 
])eated  applications,  Avhich  he  characterized  as  "  importu- 
luite,"  lie  at  length  said  :  "  I  shall  lay  your  paper  before 
Congress,  who  will,  when  they  think  proper,  give  such  or- 
ders as  they  thiidv  necessary  thereu])on.  ' 

Schuyler,  writing   to  Gates,  says:     "if   courts-martial 

1.    Am.  Archives.  4th  S..  Vol.  T.  p.  12:0. 

•-'.    Sot'  pHiiiT  in  lull      Am.  Archives,  .Ith  P.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  1159. 

3,    Sparks'  Life  (if  AriioIU,  p,  71. 


'■i! 


W'l 


104 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


would  severely  pnnisli  officers  for  illiberal  abuse  of  their 
superior  officers,  such  violent  and  ill-founded  complaints  as 
you  mention  to  be  made  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Brown 
aii^ainst  General  Arnold,  would  soon  cease.  The  latter  gen- 
tleman will  always  be  the  subject  of  complaint,  because  his 
impartiality  and  candor  will  not  suft'er  him  to  see  impro- 
priety of  behavior  with  impunity."' 

The  reply  of  Arnold  and  the  action  of  Congress  will  be 
more  fully  set  forth  hereafter.  Suffice  it  to  say  now,  that 
the  jiapers  were  referred  to  the  Board  of  War,  who  report- 
ed that  they  were  entirely  satisfied  as  to  the  character  and 
conduct  of  General  Arnold,  which,  in  the  langtiage  of  the 
I'oard,  had  been  "so  cruelly  and  groundlessly  aspersed." 
The  report  was  confirmed  by  Congress." 

The  difficulties  and  embarrassments  of  the  officers  of  the 
army  in  the  expedition  to  Canada,  and  other  military  move- 
ments, many  of  them  growing  out  of  violent  passions  and 
discordant  interests,  induced  John  Adams  to  say,  "  It  re- 
quires more  serenity  of  temper,  a  deeper  understand  nig, 
and  more  courage  than  fell  to  the  lot  of  Marlborough  to 
ride  in  this  whirlwind."^ 

If  Arnold  was  sometimes  unjust,  if  he  did  not  at  all 
times  maintain,  amidst  all  these  trials  and  vexations,  the 
•'serenity  of  temper"  which  Adams  speaks  of,  it  would 
have  been  generously  excused  and  forgiven  and  long  ago 
forgotten,  but  for  his  subsequent  treason. 

Col.  Brown  met  an  honorable  death  in  the  service  of  his 
country.  Had  such  been  the  fate  of  Arnold,  the  contro- 
versy between  these  officers  would  never  have  been  recalled. 
It  is  now  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  determine  the  exact 
merits  of  the  quarrel.  But  for  Arnold's  treison,  the  action 
of  "Wooster,  the  judgment  of  Schuyler  and  Gates,  and  the 
action  of  Congress,  would  have  been  accepted. 

1.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  250. 

2.  Spark's  Life  of  Arnold,  pntje  94.   See,  also,  Jou;  nals  of  Congress,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  199. 

3.  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  V,  p.  U12. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

NAVAL  BATTLE  OF  VALCOUR  ISLAND. 

"The  conduct  of  Arnold  in  these  naval  ufTairs  gained  him  new  laurels.  IIo  was 
extolled  for  the  judgment  with  which  he  chose  his  position,  and  brought  his  ves- 
sels into  action;  for  his  masterly  retreat;  for  the  fclj bncrificing  character  with 
which  he  exjiosed  h.mstlf  to  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy  in  covering 
the  retreat  of  part  of  his  i\(i\,\\\&."— Washington  Iivinfi. 

The  British,  Greatly  Superior  in  Numbers  and  in  Guns,  Attack  the  American 
Fleet  under  Arnold  on  Lake  Ciiamplain— The  Fight  Continues  from  Xoon 
UNTIL  Night,  when  the  Britlsh  Retire— The  Americans  Escape  through  the 
British  Line— Are  Overtaken,  and  Arnold,  in  the  Congress,  Fights  and 
Ketards  the  Enemy  until  his  other  Vessels  Escape— He  runs  the  Congress 
Ashore,  Burns  her,  and  with  his  Men,  Reachi:s  Ticonderoga. 


Lake  CiiAMrLAiN,  named  after  one  of  the  early  FrciK;!) 
explorers,  was  very  early  known  in  EnL;llsli  and  French  colo- 
nial history.  It  is  a  narrow  sheet  of  hlue  water,  lying 
hetween  Vermont  and  Xew  York,  and  in  many  parts  pre- 
t^enting  a  land.'^cape  of  exccediiii^  beauty.  From  it  may  be 
.seen,  in  the  distance,  the  varied  outlines  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tains on  the  east,  and  the  Adirondacks  on  the  west.  This 
lake,  with  its  still  more  beautiful  adjunct,  Lake  George,  the 
"Horicon"  of  the  graphic  pen  of  Cooper;  the  St.  Sacra- 
mento of  the  French;  and  connected  by  water  commnnica- 
tion  with  the  St.  Lawrence,  formed  the  natural  route  and 
easy  highway  from  Canada  to  the  interior  of  New  York. 

As  the  Americans  were  compelled  to  retreat  from  Cana- 

(105) 


'1 

ill 


lOG 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    AKNOLD. 


f  '■ 


M 


m 
1 1 


<lii,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  the  British  close- 
ly followed,  occupying  St.  Johns.  Sir  Guy  Carleton  early 
saw  the  importance  of  obtaining  naval  snpr(;inacy  on  these 
waters,  that  he  might  bring  the  English  troo[)S  to  Ticonde- 
roga,  within  convenient  distance  of  Albany,  looking  to  a 
junction  ultimately  with  the  King's  force  from  the  city  of 
New  York,  and  thereby  separating  and  isolating  iSVw  Eng- 
land fi-oni  the  other  states.  These  Lakes  and  their  connec- 
tions formed  the  most  practical  route  by  which  the  United 
States  could  be  invaded  from  Canada;  and  both  parties,  in 
the  summer  of  17TG,  prepared  vigorously  to  contest  their 
control. 

Carleton,  the  Britisli  leader,  had  many  advantages  over 
(iates  and  Arnold  in  the  race  of  i)re])aration.  First,  and 
of  immense  importance,  he  could  draw  upon  the  rich  treas- 
ury of  Great  Britain.  He  had  contractors  and  ship-build- 
ers from  England,  and  naval  stores  in  abundance  from  the 
tleet  in  the  St.  Lawrence  and  from  Quebec.  The  Englis^h 
admiralty  contributed  liberally  in  material  for  ship-building, 
and  in  naval  ecpiipments.  It  sent  out  three  vessels  of  war 
fully  prepared  for  service;  more  than  two  hundred  flat- 
bottomed  boats  were  built  at  Montreal  and  taken  to  St. 
Johns  ;  and  the  larger  vessels,  uind)le  to  ascend  the  rapids, 
were  taken  to  pieces  and  reconstructed  at  the  last  mentioned 
place.  One  of  these,  the  Liflexible,  was  .i  three  nnvsted 
ship,  carrying  twenty  twelve-pound  guns,  and  ten  smaller 
guns.  About  seven  hundred  experienced  sailors  and  the 
very  best  of  young  naval  officers,  were  selected  from  the 
vessels  of  war  and  transports  to  man  and  command  the 
lake  fleet. 

The  Americans  had  to  cut  from  the  forest  everv  stick  of 
timber  for  the  additions  to  their  small  fleet.  All  their 
naval  stores  and  material  had  to  be  brought  from  tide 
Mater  and  the  Atlantic,  over  roads  nearly  impassable.  They 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS  TREASOX. 


107 


lucked  money,  skilled  ship-builders,  imval  stores — every- 
thing; still  they  were  zealous,  active,  hopeful,  and  energetic, 
(ieneral  Arnold,  having  some  knowledge  of  ships,  ship- 
Imilding  and  navigation,  was  selected  to  superintend  the 
construction  of  the  fleet,  and  to  command  it  wiien  ready  for 
service. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  Gates  wrote  to  the  Presi- 
ilent  of  Congress,  saying  : 

"General  Arnold  (who  is  porfoctly  .skilli'd  in  naval  afFiiirs,)  lias  most 
nobly  undertaken  to  command  our  fleet  on  the  lake.  With  infinite  satis- 
liiotion  I  have  committed  the  whole  of  that  depaitmenfc  to  his  care,  con- 
vinced that  ho  will  thereby  add  to  the  brilliant  reputation  he  has  so  de- 
servedly acquired.'  *  ♦  #  General  Arnold,  ever  active  and  anxious 
to  serve  his  country,  is  just  returned  from  Skenesborough,  where  ho  has 
bLcn  to  give  life  and  spirit  to  our  dock-yard." 

General  Scluiyler,  writing  to  Gates,  August  third,  says: 
"  I  am  extremely  happy  that  General  Arnold  has  under- 
taken to  command  the  fleet.  It  has  relieved  me  from  very 
great  anxiety,  under  which  I  labored  on  that  account."' 
AVashington,  looking  anxiously  to  the  naval  control  of 
Lake  Champlain,  on  the  fourteenth  of  August,  and  before 
he  had  learned  that  Arnold  had  been  assigned  to  this  duty, 
writes  to  Gates:  "I  trust  neither  courage  nor  activity  will 
be  wanting  in  those  to  whom  the  business  (the  comniftnd 
of  the  fleet)  is  committed.  If  assigned  to  General  Arnold, 
none  will  doubt  of  his  exertions."'  Gates,  writing  to 
Washington,  July  2yth,  says:  "Our  little  fleet  already 
built  is  equi})ping  under  the  direction  of  (Jeneral  Arnold, 
with  all  the  industry  which  his  activity  and  good  example 
can  ins[)ire."  * 

It  thus  appears  that  such  Avas  AVashington's  appre- 
ciation of  Arnold's  qualities,   ignorant  that  he    had  been 

1.  Am.  Archives,  5lh  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  049. 

'2.  Am.  Archives,  fith  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  471. 

3.  Am.  Archives,  Mh  S.,Vol.  I.  p.0.v_>. 

4.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  4,  p.  12. 


108 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


mi  '.I 


.ilrcmly  appointed  to  this  service,  he  suggests  it  to  Gates, 
uiid  tliat  botli  Scliuyler  atul  Gates  felt  "infinite  satisfac- 
tion "  and  relief  from  ''  very  great  anxiety  "  when  he  nnder- 
took  the  ooniniand.  These  distinguished  officers  did  not 
overrate  his  zeal,  activity  and  energy.  lie  did,  indeed, 
give  "life  and  activity  to  the  dock-yards,"  and  to  every 
branch  of  the  business  of  preparation. 

He  was  constantly  going  to  and  fro,  nrgiiig  on  the  work, 
making  requisition  for  niecliauics,  for  seamen,  for  naval 
stores,  for  ordnance,  for  everythinij:  necessarv  to  build, 
equip,  arm  and  man  his  little  fleet.  ]>ut  no  degree  of 
energy  and  activity  could  enable  him  to  equal  the  arma- 
ment which  Sir  Ciruy  Carleton  could  bring  from  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  the  theatre  ot  conflict.  The  resources  of  a 
mighty  emjtire  Mith  untold  wealth;  the  naval  stores  of  the 
the  then  acknowledged  "mistress  of  the  seas,"  was  behind 
Carleton,  and  her  rulers  luid  the  ability  and  disposition  to 
su})ply  his  every  want.  On  the  other  hand,  the  feeble 
(.'olonies,  with  tlieir  depreciated  "  continental "  paper  money, 
with  comparatively  few  seamen;  all  naval  stores  and  needed 
sui)plies  and  material  difficult  to  obtain  on  the  sea  coast, 
and  when  obtained,  to  be  transported  far  inland — these 
were  difficulties  which  710  enerijv  could  overcome.  On  the 
18th  of  September,  Arnold,  writing  to  Gates,  says: 

"  I  begatleast  one  hundred  good  soanicn  as  soon  as  j  ossiblo;  we  have  a 
wretched  motley  crew  in  the  fleet.  Tlie  marines,  the  refuse  of  every 
regiment,  and  the  sailors,  few  of  them  ever  wet  with  salt  water — we  are 
upwards  of  one  hundred  men  short."' 

On  the  Ist  of  October,  Arnold,  writing  to  Gates,  com- 
])lains  that  the  seamen  have  not  been  sent,  and  hopes  he 
shall  be  excused,  "if  with  five  hundred  men,  half  naked," 
he  should  not  be  able  to  beat  the  enemy  in  their  overwhelm- 
ing numbers  and  complete  preparation.     lie  sends  for  shot, 

1.  Am.  Archives,  uth  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  481. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


109 


in  nsket  balls,  Luclcsliot,  grenades,  clothing,  and  "one  hun- 
dred seamen,  no  land-lubbers."' 

Gates  replies  on  the  third,  and  sends  what  he  can,  bnt 
says  :  "What  is  not  to  be  had,  you  and  the  princes  of  the 
earth  must  go  unprovided  with."  ' 

Gates,  writing  to  Schuyler,  P})eal<ii)g  of  the  want  ot  suj)- 
]>lies  and  the  difHculty  of  obtaining  tliem,  says  :  "Succeed 
or  fall,  we  have  done  our  best."  *  Arnold,  on  the  seventh 
of  October,  complaining  that  those  in  authority  on  the  At- 
lantic had  failed  to  send  much  needed  su])j)lies,  says  :  "Ls 
it  possible  my  countrymen  can  be  callous  to  their  wrongs, 
or  hesitate  one  moment  between  slavery  or  death?  *  * 
That  Being  in  whose  hands  are  all  human  events,  mmH 
doubtless  turn  the  scale  in  favor  of  the  just  and  oppressed."  * 

Gates  gave  to  Arnold  careful  instructions,  and  among 
t»tlier  direetions,  said:  "  Should  the  enemy  come  up  the  lake 
and  attempt  to  force  their  way  through  the  ])ass  you  are 
istationed  to  defend,  in  that  case  you  will  act  with  such 
cool,  determined  valor  as  will  give  them  reason  to  repent  of 
their  temerity."  * 

Arnold  kept  Gates,  who  was  at  Tlconderoga,  constantly 
advised  of  his  ])osition  and  movements.  On  the  21st  of 
September,  he  announced  his  intention  to  go  to  Valcour 
Island,  and  saj'S,  "  if  you  do  not  approve,  will  return."' 

On  the  28th,  he  writes  to  Gates  from  "  Isle  Valcour," 
giving  a  detailed  statement  of  the  position  of  the  fleet.^ 

On  the  12tli  of  October,  Gates  says  to  Arnold:  "I  am 
jjleased  to  find  you,  and  your  armada,  ride  in  Valcour 
JJay,  in  defiance  of  our  foes  in  Canada."  ' 

1.  Am.  Archives,  6th  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  835. 

2.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  II,  pp.  859-800. 
;5.    Am.  Archives  i:)thS.,Vol.  II,  p.  481. 

4.  Am.  Archives,  Stli  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  O*!. 

5.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S„  Vol.  II,  p.  8'JO. 
(i.  Am.  Archives,  5tli  S.,  Vol.  11,  p. 440. 
7.  Am.  Archives,  .-.th.S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  .lOI. 
a.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  Iul7. 


110 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


■mz 


The  oorreaporulonce  at  this  time  between  Arnold  and 
Gates,  and  Arnold  and  Sclinyler,  had  ceased  to  ho  tbnnal. 
En.i^aii;ed  in  a  cotnnion  cause,  and  struggling  with  ditlicMd- 
ties  which  taxed  their  energies  and  patience  to  the  utmost, 
and  sliaring  common  responsibilities,  they  had  been  drawn 
close  to  each  otlier,  and  during  all  the  campaign  of  177<!, 
their  corresjwnder.i'e  is  frank,  frii'iidly,  coniial,  and  some- 
times ])layful.  dates  writes  to  Arnold:  "That  the  ble'^s- 
ing  of  the  Almighty  may  prosper  all  your  undertakings  is 
the  sincere  prayer  of,  dear  General,  your  affectionate,  hum- 
ble servant."  ' 

Arnold,  writing  to  Gates  for  a  surgeon  for  his  fleet,  says: 
"  The  surgeon's  mate  of  Colonel  St.  Clair's  regiment,  has  a 
good  box  of  medicines,  and  will  incline  to  go  with  tlie  fleet. 
1  wish  he  could  l)e  sent  here,  or  some  one  who  will  answer 
to  kill  a  nuin  serundniti  artemr'^ 

lie  closes  with  expressing  his  compliments  to  the  gentle- 
men of  the  family  of  Gates,  and  his  "afl'ection"  for  that 
officer.  These  kind  relations,  unfortunately,  were  after- 
wards broken  by  Arnold's  adherence  to  Schuyler,  and  the 
jealousy  of  Gates, 

While  the  fleet  was  being  exorcised,  and  the  raw  iriate- 
rial  ont  of  which  Arnold  was  trying  to  make  sailors  and 
gunners  were  being  trained,  an  instance  of  gross  disobedi- 
ence of  orders  on  the  part  of  one  of  his  sjibordinates  oc- 
curred, which  in  its  treatment  illustrates  the  character  of 
Arnold  and  Gates.  A  certain  commander,  Wyncoop,  flatly 
refused  to  obey  the  orders  of  Arnold.  Arnold  reported  the 
facts  to  Gates,  who  immediately  sent  back  a  peremptory 
order  that  AVyncoop  should  be  ]»laced  in  arrest  and  sent  a 
prisoner  to  Ticonderoga.  Arnold,  in  complying  with  the 
order,  writes  a  note  to  Gates,  and  after  saying  this  was  the 

1.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  187. 

2.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  988. 


[I"  ?| 


Ills    PATUIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON'. 


Ill 


'i 


only  case  of  insuLonliimtion,  adds:  "  Wyncoop  is  sorry  for 
Ill's  (lisolK'dii'iu'o,  *  *  *  ami  if  it  could  he  doiio  with  pro- 
])rit'tv,  1  wish  he  iiuiy  he  |)('nnitted  to  return  home  without 
bein<ij  cashiered."  '     Jlis  kind  re(|uest  was  granted. 

The  time  at  which  the  desperate  struijgle  for  8uj>remacy 
l)etween  the  fleet  of  Arnold  and  that  of  Sir  Guy  Carlotori 
approached,  Schuyler,  (iates,  Washinijton — all  were  con- 
scious of  the  great  sujteriority  of  the  Jiritish.  All  were 
anxious,  hut  each  indulged  liope,  arising  niaitdy  from  the 
<lesperate  valor  of  Arnold.  Knowing  his  intcriority  in 
ships,  in  weight  of  metal,  and  in  men,  Arnohl  avoide<l 
the  possibility  of  an  encounter  on  the  open  lake,  where 
he  might  have  been  flanked  or  surrounded  by  anchor- 
ing his  fleet  in  a  line  between  Valcour  Island  and  the  west- 
ern shore.  In  this  position,  the  rear  being  nnaj)])roachable, 
and  his  line  extending  acnjss  the  channel,  he  cuuhl  be  at- 
tacked in  front  only.  This  was  the  llrst  time  an  American 
fought  a  Ih-itish  fleet. 

There  have  been  three  notable  battles  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Dritish  on  the  lakes.  The  battle  on  Lake 
Erie,  known  in  American  history  as  "  Perry's  Victory,"  and 
fi>ught  between  Commodore  l\'rryand  the  British  Admiral 
P)arclay;  the  battle  oti  Lake  Cluimplain,  in  whicli  the 
Americans,  under  Macdonough,  tri.  i]>hed.  In  neither  of 
these  was  there  any  such  great  disparity  of  force,  as  between 
that  of  Arnold  and  Sir  Guy  Carleton. 

The  British  fleet  consisted  of  the  Inflexible,  a  large, 
three-masted  ship,  two  schooners,  the  Lfuly  ]Marv,  and  the 
Carleton,  a  floating  battery  called  the  Thunderer,  twenty 
gun-boats,  besides  lung-boats  and  transjwrts.  "They  had." 
says  Bancroft,'  "more  than  twice  his  (Arnold's)  weight  of 


1.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  1073. 

2.  Bancroft's  Ilistory,  Vol.  IX,  p.  154. 


112 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


iiu'tal,  nnd  twice  ns  many  fit^liliii^  vessels,  and  Hkilled  eca 
men  and  oflic'ers  against  landsmen."  As  has  been  stateii, 
the  British  armed  vessels  were  manned  by  about  neveu 
hundred  selected  seamen  and  well-trained  gunners.  Ca]»- 
tain  l*rin<^l(',  of  the  Jh-itish  navy,  commandetl,  but  Carleton 
was  him.self  on  board,  and  auKMi;';  the  many  youn<^  ofheers 
was  Edward  Pellew,  afterwards  distinguished  as  Admiral 
Viscount  Exmouth.  This  fleet  carried  ninety-three  ^uns, 
some  of  them  of  heavy  calibre.  The  fleet  of  Arnold  con- 
sisted of  three  schovyiiers,  two  slou]).s,  three  galleys  and 
eight  gondolas,  carrying  in  all  seventy  guns.' 

Earlv  on  the  morning'  of  the  11th  of  October,  the  ffuard 
boats,  stationed  as  sentinels,  gave  notice  that  the  Britinli 
fleet  was  approaching,  and  it  soon  aj)j)eared  off  Cumberland 
Head,  moving  before  a  fair  wind  u\>  the  lake.  Carleton 
came  on,  conscious  of  his  greatly  superior  strengtii,  with 
his  battle-flags  proudly  flying,  and  when  the  fleet  of  Arnold 
was  discovered,  moored  in  the  passage  behind  \'alconr 
Island,  Captain  Prlngle  expressed  his  belief  that  they  would 
not  encounter  much  resistance,  and  he  anticipated  an  easy 
victory;  but  Carleton,  remembering  Quebec,  knew  that 
Arnold  would  light  to  desperation.  As  the  enemy  ap- 
pro, vdied,  the  Americans  made  ready  to  receive  them.  As 
they  advanced  arouiul  the  southern  ])oint  of  Valciuir  Island 
and  attcmj)ted  to  beat  up  towards  the  chainiel  in  which  the 
Americans  had  formed  their  line  of  battle,  the  large  ships 
fell  behind.  Arnold,  who  rarely  waited  to  be  attacked,  da- 
termined  to  take  advantage  of  the  wind,  and  attack  the 
smaller  vessels  which  were  in  advance,  before  the  large  ones 
could  beat  up  to  their  assistance.  With  the  schooner  Uoyal 
Savage,  and  three  galleys,  he  went  to  meet  the  British, 
and  opened  a  rapid  fire,  but  was  gradually  pushed  back  by 
superior  force,  and  attempting  to  return  to  the  line,  in 

1.    Sparks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  75,  nnd  Lossings  Field  Book  of  Revolution,  Vol.  I, 
p.  103. 


HIS    TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


11.'} 


iK'utiiifj  back,  tlie  Rovul  Savnije,  with  itn  inoxporionced 
crew,  went  H{,'r(nm(l  and  was  al>aii<I(»iitMl;  Arnold  l(»>in^  liU 
l>ai,';;a<,'(',  and  all  his  pajxTs,  hut  the  incti  were  saved.' 

At  halt-past  t"*elve  the  Ih-itirfh,  haviii<;  hroui^ht  all  their 
j^un-huats  and  sehouners  within  ninskct  shot  of  the  Ameri- 
can line,  the  aetion  became  general,  and  from  the  shore  of 
the  mainland  to  the  island,  the  hostile  fleets  tired  at  close 
i-an^e.  Arnold,  in  the  Congress  galley,  to  which  ho  liad 
gone  after  al)an<loning  the  Koyal  Savage,  anchored  in  the 
hottest  ])art  of  the  iire,  and  here,  with  obstinate  determina- 
tion, he  held  his  position  against  all  odds  until  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  when  the  onemv'  retired.  J)uring  this 
long  afternoon,  a  terrific  cannonade  of  ro\ind  and  grape  shot 
was  continually  kept  up,  and  a  constant  blaze  of  ritles  by  a 
large  body  of  Indians  in  the  covers  of  the  forest,  on  the 
shores  of  the  island  and  the  mainland.  Ihit  as  Arnold  had 
taken  the  precaution  to  protect  his  men  and  Ins  ships  by 
fascines  attached  to  the  sides  of  the  vessels,  the  rilies  did 
little  execution.  So  terrific  was  the  cannoiride,  that  the 
roar  of  the  heavy  guns  is  said  to  have  been  heard  at  Crown 
I'oint.  The  Congress  and  the  AV'ashington  galleys  received 
the  most  injury.  Arnold,  in  the  former,  which  was  armed 
with  two  eighteen-pounders,  two  twelves,  and  two  sixes, 
fought  with  desperate  heroism.  In  the  absence  of  ex])eri- 
enced  gunners,  he  pointed  most  of  the  pieces  himself,  pass- 
ing rapidly  from  gun  to  gun,  and  firing  as  fast  as  they  could 
be  loaded."  This  vessel  received  sevc  shots  between  wind 
and  water,  was  luilled  twelve  time,  the  mainmast  was 
wounded  in  two  jdaces,  the  rigging  cut  to  pieces;  yet,  in 
this  condition,  and  with  dead  and  wounded  all  around  him,, 
he  refused  to  yield  or  retreat;  but  hour  after  hour,  for  five 

1.  Ocneral  Richard  Arnold,  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  has  a  table  made  of  the  oak 
lately  taken  from  the  wrock  of  the  Rciyal  Savnge. 

•2.  "So  deficient  was  the  fleet  In  punners,  that  Arnold  pointed  almost  every  guu 
that  was  fired  from  his  vessel."— Sparts'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  76. 

8 


114 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   AKXOLD. 


hours,  cheered  on  his  men  by  word  and  example,  until,  a« 
night  iijiproaclied,  the  Ih-itish  withdrew— retiring  tVoin  an 
enemy  commanded  by  a  man  who  would  never  know  that 
he  was  beat,  and  who  would  rather  go  down  with  flags  lly- 
ing  than  surrender. 

The  "Washington  galley  was  nearly  as  badly  shattered  as 
the  Congress;  the  first  lieutenant  killed,  and  the  captain  and 
master  wounded.  The  New  York  lost  all  her  officers  except 
her  captain.  The  Philadelphia  was  hulled  in  so  many 
1  (laces  that  she  sunk  one  hour  after  the  engagement.  The 
whole  number  of  killed  and  wounded  was  about  eighty. 

!Never  has  there  been  exhiititcd  a  more  striking  illustra- 
tion of  Arnold's  wonderful  power  of  leadorshij)  and  ability 
to  inspire  his  men  with  heroic  bravery,  and  power  to  make 
militia  fiijht  with  untlinchini;  couraije,  than  on  this  occa- 
sion. 

As  darkness  fell  over  the  scene  of  this  terrible  conflict, 
the  British  commander  pooted  his  fleet  across  the  channel, 
through  which  Arnold  must  pass  to  etl'ect  his  escape,  with 
the  expectation  that  in  the  morning,  with  his  greatly  supe- 
rior force,  he  Mould  capture  the  whole  American  flotilla. 
Arnold,  however,  determined  to  make  an  eflbrt  to  escape, 
and  if  he  failed,  to  destroy  his  shi]is,  land  his  men,  and  flght 
his  way  through  the  Indians  to  Crown  Point,  lie  called 
to  him  for  consultation  his  two  able  and  efficient  subordi- 
nates, Colonels  Waterbury  and  "\Viggles^^•orth,  and,  he 
says,  as  their  '*  ammunition  was  three-fourths  spent,"  ' 
and  the  enemy  greatly  superior  in  ships  and  men,  they 
resolved  to  make  an  effort  to  pass  through  the  hostile  lines. 
It  was  a  hazy  night,  and  a  fair  wind  had  sprung  up  from 
the  north,  and  so,  each  vessel  putting  out  every  light  except 
a  single  signal  lantern  in  the  steri\,  to  guide  the  ship  that 
followed,  attempted  to  pass  through  the  British  lines. 

I.    Am,  Archives,  5Ui  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  ni7. 


;   P    I 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AXD    HIS    TREASON. 


115 


As  the  (.larlcness  of  tlie  inisty  night  gathered  over  the 
waters,  the  first  vessel  started,  and  in  breatliless  silence  one 
l»y  one  the  whole  flotilla  glided  throngh,  between  the  hos- 
tile vessels  :  Arnold,  in  the  Congress  bringing  np  the  rear, 
and,  as  nsual,  the  last  to  leave,  as  he  was  ever  the  first  to 
reach,  the  post  of  danger.  Tiiey  were  undiscovered.  Tt 
was  skillfully,  gallantly,  achnirably  done — and  now  with  a 
fresh  brr>eze,  the  criji[)led  vessels  bore  away  as  rapidly  as 
]iossible  up  the  Lake.  Using  all  possible  expedition,  the 
fleet  reached  Schuyler's  Island,  some  twelve  miles  from  the 
scene  of  the  battle  ;  and  here  they  were  compelled  to  lay 
to,  and  stop  ths  leaks  in  their  vessels  and  repair  damages. 
Arnold  instantly  sent  off  a  dispatch  to  Gates,  saying:  "As 
soon  as  our  leaks  are  stojvped,  our  whole  fleet  will  make 
the  utmost  dispatch  for  Crown  Point."  AVell  might  he  add: 
"We  have  gn>at  reason  to  return  our  humble  and  hearty 
tlianks  to  Almighty  God,  for  preserving  and  delivering  so 
many  of  us  from  our  more  than  savage  enemies." 

Two  of  the  gondolas  were  so  badly  injured  they  had  to 
be  abandoned  and  sunk.  In  the  afternoon  the  remainder 
of  the  cri|)plcd  flotilla  again  got  under  way;  but  the  wind 
gradually  ceased,  and  soon  a  breeze  sprung  u])  from  the 
south,  retarding  their  advance,  so  that  very  little  ])rogress 
could  be  nuide  by  beating  and  rowing.  The  next  morn- 
ing, as  the  fog  n>>e  and  the  sun  came  out,  the  whole 
]5ritish  fleet,  with  every  sail  set,  was  seen  crowding 
down  u])on  them  !  The  cri]-pled  Congress,  with  Arnold 
on  beard,  the  AVashington  and  some  gondolas,  were  in 
the  rear.  All  the  others,  with  every  inch  of  canvass 
spread,  and  urged  to  the  utmost,  wore  flying  towards 
Crown  Point.  It  was  but  a  short  time,  however,  before 
the  enemy  came  up  and  ojiened  fire  on  the  Congress, 
the  A\"ashington  and  the  gondolas.  After  receiving  a 
few   broadsides    the  AVashin<rton    struck  her   colors;    but 


IIG 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   AEXOLD. 


Arnold  had  no  thought  of  surrender.  lie  determined, 
with  the  Congress  and  tht  crippled  gondolas,  to  fight  the 
whole  fleet  of  the  enemy,  and  so  retard  their  advance,  that 
the  remainder  of  his  vessels  might  make  good  their  escape — 
to  sacrifice  himself  if  necessary  to  their  safety.  He  re- 
ceived the  whole  fire  of  the  hostile  fleet.  A  ship  mounting 
twelve  eighteen-pound  guns,  a  schooner  of  fourteen  six- 
ponnders,  and  another  of  twelve  sixes,  two  under  her  stei'u 
and  one  on  her  broadside,  poured  their  concentrated  Are  of 
round  and  grape  shot  into  the  already  disabled  Congress. 
These  vessels  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  for  four  hours  upon 
this  one  ship,  which  Arnold  returned  as  best  he  could. 
Thus  the  English  fleet  was  delayed,  and  the  remainder  of 
his  own  was  making  good  their  escape.  The  Congress  was 
so  disabled  she  could  not  fly,  and  Arnold  would  not  sur- 
render. Her  sails,  rigging  and  hull  were  shattered  and 
torn  to  fragments;  the  l^ieutenant  killed;  the  crew,  many 
of  them  killed  and  wounded.  Still  her  stern  commander 
had  no  thought  of  striking  his  flag,  and  continued  the  con- 
test,  until  still  other  vessels  of  the  enemy  arrived,  and  he 
found  himself  surrounded  with  seven  sail,  each  pouring  in 
upon  the  hapless  Congress  broadside  after  broadside;  and 
still,  in  the  openings  of  the  enemies'  sails,  and  of  the  smoke 
of  their  guns,  which  thickly  enveloped  him,  his  flag  could 
be  seen  still  flying.' 

Hi8  ship  was  now  a  coniplete  wreck,  and,  as  he  could 
fight  no  more,  he  managed  to  break  through  the  vessels 
which  surrounded  him,  and  ran  the  Congress  and  the  gon- 
dolas into  a  small  creek;  and  ordering  the  marines  to  leap 

1.     From  "the  shore  dimly  (seen,  thnmsh  the  mists  of  the  deep, 
Where  the  foo's  hnnghty  liost  in  droiiil  .silence  reposes, 
Whiit  is  that  which  the  hreeze  o'er  the  towering  steep, 

As  it  fitfully  blows,  luilf  eoneenls,  Imlf  discloses? 
Now  it  catches  the  gleim  of  theeveninf;'s  last  boara 
In  full  glory  reflected— now  shines  on  the  stream— 
'Tis  the  star-spangl  3d  banner;  O,  long  may  it  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave  1 " 


1 

IN 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


117 


ovei'1)oanl  and  wade  ashore  witli  tlieir  small  arms,  he  tlieu 
set  lire  to  the  ship  and  the  gondolas,  and  protected  from 
the  approach  of  small  hoats  hj  the  muskets  of  the  marines, 
lie  lingered  until  the  fire  had  extended  too  far  to  he  ex- 
tinguished, and  then— his  flag  still  flvinc — and  orderinj; 
all  his  men  ashore,  he  himself  the  last  to  leave,  leaped  from 
the  bowsprit  to  the  beach,  and  both  he  and  his  men,  escap- 
ing an  Indian  ambuscade  by  taking  an  unusual  route, 
arrived  in  safety  at  Crown  Point,  and  passed  on  to  Ticon- 
tleroga. 

"  From  Salamis  to  Trafalgar," 

Where  has  there  been  a  bi'aver  light  ?  Well  may  the 
sober  Mr.  Sparks,  roused  by  the  magnetism  of  such  con- 
duct, exclaim:  "There  are  few  instances  on  record  of 
more  deliberate  courage  and  gallantry  than  Vv'ere  displayed 
by  him,  from  beginning  to  end  of  this  action."  ' 

The  country  rang  with  praises  of  his  lieroism,  and  his 
brilliant  achievements  were  in  every  man's  mouth.  "  Such 
were  the  skill,  bravery  and  obstinate  resistance  of  Arnold 
and  his  men  against  a  vastly  superior  force;  the  event  was 
hailed  as  ominous  of  great  achievements  when  such  fear- 
ful odds  did  not  exist." " 

"General  Arnold  covered  himself  witli  glory,  and  his 
example  appears  to  have  been  nobly  followed  by  most  of 
his  officers  and  men.  Eveii  the  enemy  did  justice  to  the 
resolution  and  skill  with  which  the  American  flotilla  was 
managed,  the  disparity  of  force  rendering  victory  out  of 
the  question,  from  the  first.  The  manner  in  which  the 
Congress  was  fought,  until  she  had  covered  the  retreat  of  the 
galleys,  and  the  stubborn  resolution  with  which  she  was 
defended  until  destroyed,  converted  the  disasters  of  this 
part  of  the  day  into  a  species  of  triumph." '     This  lan- 

1.  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  79. 

2.  Loss.ni5's  Field  Book  of  Revolution,  p.  Ififi. 

3.  J.  I'cunimore  Cooper's  Niival  History  U.  S.,  Vol.  I,  p  73. 


118 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


^uage  of  Lossing  aiKl  Sparks  and  Cooper  is  not  extravagant. 
Search  the  naval  history  of  our  English  ancestors,  from 
Frobisher  to  Nelson,  and  our  o\vn,  from  Paul  Jones  to  Perry 
and  Decatur,  down  to  Parragut,  and  tiiere  is  no  instance  of 
more  desperate  valor.  Arnold  lost  some  of  his  ships,  but 
by  his  own  desperate  fighting  he  saved  the  others  and  Ins 
Hag,  added  to  his  fame,  and  in  the  language  of  his  instruc- 
tions, he  met  the  enemy  "  with  such  cool,  deterniined  valor," 
as  taught  them  the  difficulty  of  conquering  such  a  people. 

The  battle  of  Bunker  llill  was  an  American  defeat,  but 
its  moral  influence  on  both  the  contending  nations,  was 
equal  to  an  American  victory.  The  battle  of  Yalcour 
Island  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  American  fleet,  but  if 
every  battle  Avas  to  be  thus  bloody  and  desperate,  how  long 
M'ould  the  British  ministers  desire  to  continue  the  conflicts 

How  the  conduct  of  Arnold  was  regi'.rded  by  Gates  and 
other  officers  appears  from  extracts  from  their  letters  and 
orders. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  October,  Gates  encloses  Arnold's  re- 

])ort  of  the  engagement  to  Schuyler,  and  adds  : 

"  It  has  pleased  Providence  to  preserve  General  Arnold.  Few  men 
ever  met  with  so  many  liair-brcadth  escapes  in  so  short  a  space  of 
tmie."  I 


X.    The  following  is  Arnold's  report  of  Uie  fight: 

'•  TlCONDEROGA,  Oct.  !">,  177C. 

' '  Dear  Gener  ai.:— I  make  no  douht  before  this  you  have  received  a  copy  of  my 
letter  to  General  Gates,  of  tiic  12th  instant,  dated  at  Schuyler's  Island,  advisini?  ot 
an  action  between  our  fleet  and  'ho  enemy  the  preceding  day,  in  which  wo  lost  ii 
schooner  and  a  gondola.  We  remained  no  longer  at  Schuyler's  I.sliind  than  to  sioo 
our  leaks  and  mend  the  .«ails  of  the  Washington.  At  two  o'clock  P.M.,  the  12th, 
weiglicd  anchor,  with  a  fresh  breeze  to  the  southward.  The  enemy's  fleet  at  (he 
same  time  got  under  way;  our  gondola  made  very  little  way  ahead.  In  the  evening 
the  wind  raotierated,  and  we  made  such  progress  that  at  six  o'clock  next  mornin:.; 
we  were  about  oft'  Willsbotough,  twenty  ciglit  miles  from  Crown  Point.  The  ene- 
my's fleet  were  very  little  way  above  Schuyler's  Island  ;  the  wind  breezed  tip  to  the 
southward,  so  that  we  pained  very  little  by  beatingor  rowing :  nt  the  same  time  the 
enemy  took  a  fresh  breeze  from  the  northeast,  and  by  the  time  we  had  reached 
Split  Rock,  were  along  side  of  us.  The  Washington  and  Congres.s  were  in  the 
rear,   the  rebtof  our  fleet  were  ahead,  except  two  gondolas  sunk  at  Schuyler's 


III8   PATIUOTISM    AM)    HIS    TIIEASOX. 


119 


Richard  Yariclc,  writini^  to  (ieiu'ral  Gates,  October  ITtli, 

after  alludiiii;  to  the  dct'cat  of  the  Heet,  acUls: 

''  But  anion^'  tlm  favors  of  Provitli'iioo  we  have  tin.' blossingr  of  General 
Arnold's  safe  return.  I  feared  much  for  him.  I  ho{)e,  however,  he  will 
still  humble  the  pride  and  arrofjnace  of  hun<;hty  Britain,  and  convince 
them  that  one  defeat  doe.s  not  di.spirit  Americans."  ' 

On  the  t\vent\--socon(l  of  October,  General  Gates,  writing 
to  Gov.  Trumbull,  says: 

Island.  The  Washington  gnllcy  was  in  such  a  shattered  condition,  and  had  so 
many  men  killed  and  wouiulfd,  she  siruek  to  the  enemy  after  receiving  a  few 
br,  adsldcs.  ^Ye  were  then  attiuUed  in  the  Congress  galley  by  a  ship  mounting 
twelve  eighteen-pounders,  a  sehooner  of  fourteen  si-xes,  and  one  of  twelve  sixes, 
two  under  our  stern  and  one  on  our  broadside,  within  musket  shot. 

"  They  kept  ui)  an  ineessant  lire  on  us  lor  about  live  glasses,  with  round  and  grape 
shot,  which  we  returned  as  brisKly.  The  sails,  rigging  and  hull  of  the  Congress  were 
shattered  and  torn  in  pieces,  the  First  Lieutenant  and  three  men  killed,  when,  to 
j)revent  her  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands,  whuhad  seven  sail  around  me,  I  ran 
her  ashore  in  a  small  creek  ten  jnilcs  from  Crown  Point,  on  the  Kast  side,  when, 
alter  saving  our  small  arms,  I  set  her  on  fire,  with  four  gondolas,  with  whose  crews 
I  'cached  Crown  Point  through  the  woods  tlmt  evening,  and  very  luckily  escaped 
the  savages,  who  waylaid  the  road  in  two  hours  alter  wo  pnssed.  At  four  (,'clock 
yesterday  morning  I  rcacihed  this  place,  exceedingly  fatigued  and  unwell,  having 
been  without  sleep  or  refreshment  for  iie  ir  tljiee  days.  Of  <nir  whole  lleet  we  have 
saved  oidy  two  galleys,  two  small  scliuoners,  one  gondola,  and  one  sljop.  Gen- 
oral  Wiiterbury,  with  one  hundri'd  and  ten  pri.S()ners,  weio  returned  by  Carletiin 
last  night.  On  board  of  the  t:<>ngi ess  we  had  twenty-odd  men  killed  and  W(  nndcd 
(Mir  whole  In.ss  amounts  to  eighty  odd.  The  enemy's  flc.'t  were  last  night  three  mi k> 
below  Crown  Point ;  their  army  is  d(jubtless  at  their  heels.  We  are  Imsily  employe. 1 
in  completing  our  lines,  redtiibts,  which,  1  am  sorry  to  s.iy,  are  not  so  forward  as 
I  could  wisli.  We  have  very  few  cannon,  but  are  mounting  every  piece  we  have. 
It  is  theoiiinion  of  Generais  Gates  and  l>t.  i:lair,  that  eight  or  ten  thousand  militia 
should  be  immediately  sent  to  our  assistance,  if  they  can  be  spared  fmm  below.  I 
am  of  opinion  the  enemy  will  atttiek  us  with  their  fleet  and  army  at  the  .same 
time.  The  former  is  very  formidable,  a  list  of  which  I  am  favored  with  by  General 
Wiiterbury.  and  have  enclosed. 

".The  .season  is  so  lar  advanced,  cur  people  are  daily  growing  more  healthy.  We 
have  about  nine  thousand  efl'ectives,  and  if  properly  supported,  make  no  doubt  of 
stopping  the  career  of  the  enemy.  All  your  letters  to  me  of  late  have  miscarried. 
I  am  extremely  sorry  to  hear  by  General  Gates  you  are  unwell.  I  have  sent  you  by 
(ieueral  Watertmry  a  small  box,  containing  all  my  public  and  private  papers  and 
accounts,  with  a  considerable  sum  of  hard  and  paper  money,  which  I  beg  the 
favor  of  your  taking  care  of. 

"  I  am,  dear  Generol,  your  most  affectionate  humble  servant, 

"B.  Arnold. 
"Tenon.  Major-General  Schuyler." 

Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  1080. 

1.    Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  11,  p    n02. 


120 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


i'  ■' 


pi; 


"  It  would  have  been  happy  for  the  United  States  had  the  gallant  be- 
havior, and  stoady  good  conduct  of  that  excellent  officer  (Arnold;,  been 
fiupportixl  by  a  fleet  in  any  degree  equal  to  the  enemy."  ^ 

On  the  14tli  of  October,  General  Gates  in  ;Tencnil  orders 
"  returns  his  thanks  to  General  Arnold  and  the  officers,  sea- 
men and  marines  of  the  fleet  for  the  ^alhuit  defense  they 
made  against  the  great  superiority  of  tlie  enemy's  force."' 
The  conduct  of  the  Americans  extorted  tlie  admiration  even 
of  tlieir  enemies.  A  gallant  young  English  officer,  named 
Dacre,  was  sent  to  p]ngland  with  dispatches,  find  in  giving 
an  account  of  the  conflict  "does  justice  to  Arnold,  and  ac- 
knowledges that  the  disposition  of  liis  force,  and  the  defense 
lie  made  against  a  superior  enemy,  and  the  management  of 
his  retreat,  did  liini  great  honor." " 

The  above  extracts  are  given  to  show  the  judgment  of 
the  officers  and  fellow-soldiers  of  Arnold  at  the  time  of  the 
action,  and  before  their  opinion  could  be  clianged  by  his 
subscijuent  conduct. 

I  am  not  unaware  that,  after  ArnoUFs  treason,  and  since 
it  has  become  the  natural  inclination  of  our  historians  to 
discredit  him,  it  has  been  stated  "that  he  recklessly  sacri- 
ficed his  fleet  without  public  benefit."*  Such  was  not  the 
opinion  of  his  comrades,  and  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  with 
more  judicial  fairness,  expresses  the  judgment  of  the 
officers  of  the  devolution,  when  he  says:  "Arnold's  fleet 
was  very  advantageously  j^osted,  and  forming  a  strong  line 
to  defend  the  passage  between  Valcour  Island  and  the  west- 
ern main;  and  liis  defeat  did  not  dispirit  the  Americans, 
nor  diminish  liis  reputation.* 

1.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  II,  p.  1192. 

2.  Am.  Aichivos,  5th  S.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  ,Vi5. 

:').    Am.  Archives,  6th  S.,  Vol.  III.  p.  1,227. 
■1.    HiiiRToft's  History  of  tlic  T'liiietl  Stnto.«,  Vol.  IX.  p.  l.'iR. 
5.    Marslinll's  Life   of  Wiishiuytoii,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  8-10.    See  also  Irvlng'8  Life  of 
Wasliington,  Vol.  11,  p.  441. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


ARNOLD  SUPERCEDED,  AND  HIS  FIGHT  AT  RiDGEFIELD. 

"I  am  anxious  to  know  whether  (ieiu'rnl  ArnoUl's  iion-proinotion  was  nwins  to 
accident  or  design  ;  and  the  cnusu  of  it.  t^urcly  a  more  aeiive,  a  more  spirited,  and 
sensible  ofBcer  fills  no  department  of  your  army."—  iVasliinnluii.  1 

"  May  the  broad  hand  of  the  Ahnii;lity  (jvirshadow  yo\i ;  and  if  called  to  battle, 
may  the  Oud  of  armies  cover  your  head  ill  the  day  of  it."— i/ciH«a/i  Arnoid  to  htr 
Brolhtr. 


Arnold  in  Washington's  Camp-sfnt  to  Riiodk  Island— Advances  £l,fi00  to  aid 
I.AMit  IN  Raising  nis  Regiment— Ofkehs  Himself  to  tue  Beautiful  Miss 
Deiii.ois— Five  Junior  Brioadieus  PRoMoTici)  ovr.u  him— He  witholds  iiis  Re- 
signation AT  \Vasiiin(. ton's  Rkquest— His  De.«?ehate  Battle,  and  K.scai'E  at 
RiDGEFIELD  —  Congress  Vote  him  a  Horse,  and  Commis.sion  iiim  a  Ma,jor- 

GENERAI, — DEiLARE  the  ClIARGE-i  OF  BliOWN  TO  BE  CrI'EL    Asi'ERSIONS  Ul'oN  HIS 

Character— Washington  Begs  CuNoitLss  TO  Send  iini  North  to  aid  in  Re- 
pelling Blt.coyne. 


On  his  arrival  at  Ticondcro^a,  Arnold  was  most  cordially 
welcomed  by  General  (Jates,  Ills  ])()]mlarity  had  been 
greatly  increased  by  his  conduct  in  the  battle  npon  Lake 
Champlain.     Mr.  Sparks  say.s: 

"  Some  writers  have  coiiimentfcl  on  the  execution  of  this  enterprise  in 
ii  tone  of  captious  criticism,  which  can  liy  no  means  be  sustained  by  an 
impartial  view  of  the  suliject.^  Arnold  was  sent  out  to  meet  the  enemy. 
Whether  he  should  fight  or  not.  it  is  true,  was  left  to  his  discretion.  He 
chose  the  former,  and  was  beaten;  but  not  until  he  had  maintained  a 
combat  for  half  a  day,  with  a  force  nearly  double  his  own,  and  caused 
the  enemy  to  retire.    This  fact  is  enough  to  prove  that  his  position  was 

1.  Letter  to  Richard  Henry  Lee.    Sparks'  Writinj^s  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  :t51. 

2.  Life  of  Arnold,  pp.  SO-81.    See  Bancroft's  History  of  U.  S.,  Vol.  IX,  p.  150. 

(121) 


122 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


.iiidiciously  chosen,  and  that  the  action  on  his  part  was  skillfully  fon^'ht. 
*  *  With  consumniate  address,  ho  then  penetrated  tiie  enemy's  lines, 
and  bronghfc  ott'  his  whole  fleet,  shattered  and  disabled  as  it  was,  and 
succeeded  at  last  in  saving  six  of  his  vessels,  and  it  might  be  added,  most 
of  his  men.    *     *    * 

The  conduct  of  Arnold  was  at  the  time  approved  by  his  military  supe- 
riors, by  Congress,  and  the  whole  nation." 

Therel'ure,  when  he  joined  tlic  army  afjuin  atTioondoro^a, 
his  fellow-soldiers  cordially  welcomed  him,  and  i-ei^arded 
his  escape,  in  the  langnage  of  ('olonel  Yarick,  as  ''a  l)le.ss- 
injj  from  Almighty  God."  Carleton  did  not  attack  Ti- 
conderoga.  The  lateness  of  the  season,  and  the  manner 
in  which  Arnold  had  resisted  li's  attack  on  the  Ameri- 
can fleet,  doubtless  inflnenc'd  h'm.  Arnold  had  exhib- 
ited thus  far  in  his  military  carter  a  brilliant  heroism, 
an  energy  and  determination,  cortaiiily  unsurpassed  by  that 
of  any  officer  in  the  service.  lie  ha(i  from  the  first  enjoyed 
the  unqualified  confidence  of  AVashington  and  Schuyler. 
AVarrciJ,  while  he  lived,  was  his  devoted  friend,  and  Chase, 
and  Carroll  of  Carrollton  the  commissioners  from  Con- 
gress to  Canada,  mIio  had  visited  him  in  his  camp,  certified 
to  his  ffood  conduct.  Yet  he  liad  bitter  ami  infiuential 
enemies.  Lieutenant  Colonel  ]3rown  and  Colonel  Easton 
jn'obably  prejudiced  some  of  the  members  of  C^iugress  from 
'New  P^nii'land  against  him.  Chase  liad  written  to  him  in 
August,  on  his  return  to  riiiladelphiii  from  Canada: 

"T  am  distressed  to  hear  so  many  reports  injurious  to  your  character 
about  the  goods  seized  at  Montreal.  I  cannot  but  request  all  persons  to 
suspend  their  opinion,  to  give  you  an  opportunity  of  being  heard. 
Your  best  friends  ar.;  not  your  countrymen.  *  *  *  Mr.  Carroll  re- 
quests his  compliments,  etc. '     Your  atl'ectionate  and  obedient  servant, 

"SaMUKL  CitASE." 

Possibly  the  warm  friendship  manifested  for  him  by 
Schuyler,  who  early  suggested  his  name  for  an  important 
]wsition,  and  who  was  very  unpopular  with  most  of  tlie 

3.    Am.  Arcliivcs,  5Ui  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  810. 


-} 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON'. 


Is^ew  England  delegates  in  Coiigrcs?,  may  liave  prejudiced 
some  of  the  members  from  that  section  ajjcainst  him. 

"A  prophet  is  not  without  honor,  save  in  his  own 
country." 

As  he  now  came  np  the  lake  to  Ticonderoga,  with 
the  glory  won  in  tlu;  Miidcnicss  of  Maine,  at  Quebec,  at 
A'alcour  Island,  honored  by  bin  associates  as  the  hero  of  tlie 
hour,  there  was  a  great  contru-st  betwe^'ii  his  conditiijii,  when 
in  May  1775,  he  marched  by  the  side  of  Ethan  Allen  into 
the  sally-port  of  the  old  fortress.  If  his  memory  reverted, 
us  it  doubtless  did,  to  the  time  when  as  a  ninaway  boy 
lie  had  sought  on  the  shores  of  these  same  waters,  adven- 
ture in  the  ranks,  ho  must  have  felt  some  satisfaction  in 
•what  he  had  already  accomplished.  Intensely  ambitious, 
had  he  possessed  the  wonderful  self-control  and  j)oiso 
of  "Washington,  his  career  would  have  been  as  brilliant  in 
its  termination  as  it  had  thus  far  been  bright  and  promis- 
ing. But,  while  respectful  to  his  superiors,  and  ])lacable 
to  those  who  made  friendly  advances  to  him,  there  is  prob- 
ably no  instance — I  know  of  none — in  which  this  proud 
and  haughty  soldier  sought  to  conciliate  an  enemy.  To 
those  who  injured  him,  and  to  those  he  believed  desired  to 
injure  him,  he  was  stern  and  defiant.  Hence  he  had  many 
and  powerful  enemies,  and  he  was  too  proud  to  take  any 
step  to  conciliate  them.  They  who  became  unfriendly 
from  any  cause,  or  without  cause,  were  apt  to  continue  so; 
and  prejudice  was  easily  created  against  a  man  of  his 
haughty  spirit,  and  these  enemies  finally  drove  him  to  des- 
peration and  a  terrible  crime. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  Xoveniber,  Arnold  and  Gates 
were  at  Albany,  and  Gates  wrote  to  the  President  of  Con- 
gress, saying: 

"General  Arnold,  who  is  now  liere,  is  anxious  nftin*  his  long  absence 
to  see  his  family,  and  settle  his  public  accounts.    Should  the  motions  of 


124 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


tho  ononiy  iiiiiko  liis  prcsfnon  nocossavy,  T  know  liia  zoiil  for  tlio  acrvico 
will  oiitw'i^'li  all  other  cuiisiderutiuiis,  and  induce  liiui  to  tuku  tim  route 
that  leads  to  them."  ' 

On  the  fourteenth  of  December,  1770,  AV^ashlni^ton  writes 
to  Governor  Truiuball,  of  Connecticut: 

''I  have  ordered  General  Arnold,  on  his  way  down  from 
Ticonderoga  to  ^(orwich,  or  wherever  his  presence  will  be 
most  necessary ;" "  and  to  General  Gates:  "1  wrote  to 
(ieneral  Arnold  to  go*to  the  eastward  on  account  of  intelli- 
ji^enco  from  that  quiirter.  His  presence  will  lie  of  inlinite 
service."' 

This  order  missed  him  on  his  route,  and  he  had  the 
])leasure  of  visiting  AVasliington  at  Ins  camp,  on  the  banks 
vi'  the  Delaware,  wlieri;  he  remained  three  days,  a  short 
time  before  the  battle  of  Trenton.' 

The  Ib-itish  were  threateniui'  the  coast  of  New  England 
and  Arnold  was  now  sent  to  lihode  Island  to  co-operate 
with  General  Heath  in  railvini;  the  militia,  ami  niakini; 
])re])arations  to  repel  them.  General  Green,  writing  to  the 
(iovernor  of  lihode  Island,  says  :  "General  8])encer  and 
(ieneral  Arnold  are  coming  to  take  the  command  in  lihode 
Island.  Arnold  is  a  line  sjurited  fellow,  and  an  active  Gen- 
eral."* On  his  way,  Arnold  visited  his  sister,  and  his 
children,  then  under  her  motherly  care.  The  British  landed 
and  took  possession  of  Newport.  The  winter  was  passed 
by  him  in  New  England.  He  visited  Boston,  and  spent 
some  time  there  in  consulting  leading  men  and  the  Legis- 
ture,  with  a  view  of  raising  a  force  with  which  to  attack  the 
enemy  in  Ilhode  Inland.  Washington  wrote  to  him  several 
times  during  the  winter,  and  in  reply  to  letters  from  liim 
desiring  permission  to  attack,  Washington  discouraged  hinb 

1.  Am.  Archives,  5Ui  S..V0I.  Ill,  p.  87.5. 

2.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  rilf). 
:i.  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  1217. 
4.  Am.  Archives,  Dth  S.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  VMi. 


HIS  PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASON. 


125 


on  the  ground  tliat  his  force  was  insufficient  to  make  success 
"moriilly  certain."  * 

In  tlie  canij)aif^n  afjainst  Quebec,  Arnokl  liad  formed  a 
strong  attachment  for  a  comrade,  ('apt.  John  Lamb,  who 
in  the  assault  commanded  the  artiMcry;  and  nho  i)a<l  been 
severely  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  AVliile  at  "W^ash- 
ington's  lieadquarters,  on  the  Delaware,  he  had  made 
strong  and  successful  interest  with  the  commander-in-chief 
to  have  Lamb  exchanged.  Soon  after  the  exchange,  Laml) 
was  authorized  to  raise  a  regiment  of  artillery,  and  among 
his  captains  he  selected  Samuel  jVIunstield,  tlie  brother  of 
General  Arnold's  deceased  wife. ' 

Colonel  Lamb  was  vcrv  much  embarrassed  in  raisin^''  his 

regiment  for  want  of  fun<ls,  (.'nngress  neglecting  to  fui-nish 

them.     After  exhausting  his  own  means,  and  borrowing  of 

his  friends,  he 

"Fell  in  with  General  Arnold,  wlio,  upon  being  acquainted  with  the 
f'liluro  of  the  government  to  furnish  funds  for  enlistment,  offered  tljc 
loan  of  one  thousand  pounds,  and  sent  to  Colonel  Lamb  an  order  on  his 
sister  Hannah,  who  had  taken  eharpe  of  liis  family  after  the  death  of  liis 
wife.  Ttie  order  waa  accepted,  and  that  excellent  and  patriotic  woman 
advanced,  with  alacrity,  the  money."* 

It  was  during  this  winter,  and  while  at  IJoston,  tliat  Ar- 
nold met  and  fell  in  love  with  the  beautiful  Miss  Deblois, 
tlien  a  distinguislied  and  much  admired  belle  of  that  citv. 
The  following  is  a  curious  letter  of  his  to  Mrs.  Knox,  wife 
of  General  Ivnox,  and  presents  a  new  phase  of  his  char- 
acter: 

"WATP:nTOWX,  4th  March,  1777. 
"Dear  Madam  :— 

"I  have  taken  the  Liberty  o  Enclosing  a  letter  to  the  heavenly  Miss 
Deblois,  which  I  bej?  the  favor  of  j-our  delivering  with  the  trunk  of 
gowns,  etc.,  which  Mrs.  promised  me  to  send  to  you.     I  hope  she 

1.  See  letter  of  Wnshington  to  Arnold,  Fcby.  6,  1777.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Wuj>h- 
liiRton,  Vol.  IV.  p  ;ii:i;  also,  letter  of  March  3d,  Vol.  IV,  p.  311. 

'i..    l.cakcH  LiCe  of  I.nmb,  p.  lOO. 

;!.  Leake's  Life  of  Lamb.  j).  I'i3.  This  act  does  not  tend  to  prove  the  penurious- 
ne.ss  with  whicli  Arnold  lius  been  charged. 


120 


LIFE  OF   BKNTDICT   AltXOLD. 


will  piiiko  no  ohjortion  to  ronoivinpr  tlioin.     I  make  no  douht,  yon  will 

soon  liiivo  till'  |)l('iisurr!  to  son  I  lie  chiiniiiii^  Mrs.  Kinciy,  iiml  hiivo  it  in 

your  power  to  Rive  nie  the  favomblo  intcUivrt'nce.    I  shall  remain  uniler 

tlio  most  anxious  suspcnHc  until  I  liavi'  tlic  fiivor  of  n  Lino  from  you,  wiio, 

if  I  may  judf,'!',  wil'  from  your  own  oxpcrii'ncordnsidertlie  fond  aiixii'ly, 

the  plowing  liopps  and  cliilling  U'.wh  that  alternately  poBsess  the  heart,  of 

dear  Madam,  Ynur  obedient  and  most  humble  Serv.mt, 

"J3KNKDICT  Arnold. 
"Mrs.  Knox,  Donton."' 

ror]ia]>8  the  brilliant  soldier  woiil<l  liavo  been  ir.ore  suc- 
cessful if  be  liad  made  love  in  person,  AVliat  wa.s  tlie  reply 
of  Mies  Deltloif^,  we  are  not  informed  ;  but  it  may  be 
inferred  from  tbc  fact  that  slie  never  married. 

AVliile  vVrnold  wnti  actively  en<^ai^ed  in  Xew  Enc^land  in 
tryini;  to  raise  a  force  with  M-bieb  be  could  attack  the  Brit- 
ish, an  event  occurred  which  bad  "an  important  bearin;^ 
on  his  future  destiny." 

On  tbc  rjtb  of  February,  1777,  Congress  elected  five 
Major  Generals,  namely:  Stirling,  Mifflin,  St.  Clair, 
Ste])hen  and  Lincoln.  Arnold  Mas  passed  over,  and  tbc 
above  named  five,  every  one  his  junior  in  rank,  and  one  of 
them,  Lincoln,  was  promoted  from  the  militia.  AVhatevor 
may  have  been  the  merits  of  Stephen,  Stirling,  and  their 
associates,  no  one  will  assert  that  in  service  or  merit  as  sol- 
diers, there  was  anything  in  their  ])ast  history  to  justify 
their  -jTomotion  over  such  an  officer  as  Arnold,  with  the 
military  record  he  had  made.     lie  was  astonished  and  in- 

1.  W.  IT.  Sumner,  who  communicates  the  \oUcv  lo  the  RcRister,  say.s :  "The 
original  letter  in  ArnoUl's  own  handwriting,  was  aecideiitally  I'ouiiil  among  the 
impers  of  General  Knox.  It  is  written  In  a  handsome  hand,  free  and  unaflected." 
Mr.  Sumner  say.s: 

"  The  impni-sioned  language  of  Arnold  shows  that  he  made  love  a.s  he  fought,  and 
did  everything  else,  with  all  his  migh»^  nd  main,  and  one  cannot  help  reflecting 
how  very  difl'erent  might  have  been  the  history  of  this  brave  but  passionate  and 
ill-disciplined  man,  had  he  succeeded  in  thi.s,  perhaps  his  first  love  afTair."  (Mr. 
Sumner  forgets  his  attachment  and  marriage  to  Miss  Jfansfleld,  at  New  Haven.) 
'•  lie  was  then,"  snys  Sumner,  "  at  the  zenith  of  liis  fame,  just  subsequent  to  his 
brilliant  career  In  Canada  and  on  the  lakes."— A'«w  England  Ilidorical  ivid  Gcncn- 
logical  Rcjider,  Vol.  II,  p.  75. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    IIIS   TREASON. 


11.7 


di^tiiiiit,  liiit  acted   with  diifiiity  ami  self-contnd.     AVasli- 

iiiijtoii  waK  concorned  and  0({ually  astoiiislifd;  ho  t'oarcd  tlie 

army  wouM  h)so  the  servieea  of  ii  |i;encral  lio  was  acciis- 

tomcd  to  h)<)k  to  for  liard   work  and  Hcvrrc  Horvico.     IIo 

t'oidd  not  tliink  it  crediblo  that  this  indiijnity  conld  liavo 

heeri   inllictod  njxui  ArnoKl  l)y  design.     "This  measure," 

says  Sparks,   "was  (hvply  reifretted   by  Wai'dngton,  who 

valued  hi<^hly  the   military  abilities  of  Arnold,   and  who 

considered  the  ijood  of  the  service  to  recjuire  a  strict  regard 

to  the  customary  rewards  for  professional  merit."  ' 

Washin<;ton  w/ote  to  Arnold,  saying: 

"I  am  iit  a  loss  to  know  wlicMior  yo\\  Inivc  liiid  a  pr'^codiiiij  ippnint- 
nirnt,  as  (Ik;  ncwsiJiipcrs  iimioimce,  or  \vlii.'tli(,'r  jou  liavo  Ijecn  oiiiitti'il 
tliioiiph  sonio  Tiiistakf.  Should  the  latter  be  the  case,  I  hog  you  will 
not  ke  any  hasty  stcjiH,  but  allow  proper  time  f(jr  rccolli'rtioM.  which  I 
Hatter  myself  will  remedy  any  trior  that  may  liavo  been  madi';  my 
eudoavors  to  that  end  shall  not  bo  wantinj,'."  '' 

Arnold's  rej)ly,  dated  ^farch  11th,  was  manly  and  dig- 
nified, but  indicated  chat  his  feelin^js  were  deeply  hurt. 

"I  nra  greatly  obliped  to  your  Excellency,"  he  wrote  to  General  Wash- 
in{,'ton,  "lor  interestintr  yourself  so  much  in  my  behalf  in  respect  to  my 
appointment,  which  I  have  had  no  advice  of,  and  know  not  by  what 
means  it  was  announced  in  tin;  papers.  I  believe  none  but  tho  printer 
has  a  mistake  to  rectify.  Confjress,  undoubtedly,  have  a  rijfht  of  pro- 
motinpf  those  whom,  from  their  abilities,  and  their  lonj?  and  arduous  ser- 
vices, they  esteem  most  desiu'vin;.'.  Their  prornDtinsj  junior  olHcer.s  to  thu 
rank  of  major-jjenerals,  I  view  as  a  very  civil  Wiiy  of  requesting  my 
resignation,  as  unqualified  for  the  otTice  I  hold.  i\[y  commission  was 
conferred  unsolicited,  and  received  with  pleasure  only  as  a  means  of  serv- 
ing my  country.  With  equal  pleasure  I  resign  it,  when  I  can  no  longer 
serve  my  country  v.-itli  honor.  'I'he  person  who,  void  of  tho  nice  feelings 
of  honor,  Avill  tamely  condescend  to  give;  up  his  right,  and  retain  a  com- 
mission at  tho  <'xpense  of  his  reputation,  I  hold  as  a  disgrace  to  the 
army,  and  unworthy  of  the  glorious  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged. 
When  I  entered  tho  service  of  my  country  my  ciuinicter  was  unini- 
peached.     I  have  sacrificed  my  interest,  ease  and  hapi)inefts  in  he:  cause. 

1.  Note  of  Sparks  to  Writings  of  Wnshlnprton,  Vol.  IV,  p.  a43. 

2.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Wusliington,  pp.  o40-0. 


128 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


It  is  ratliiT  a  misfortune  Ihan  a  fault,  tliat  my  exertions  liavo  not  been 
crowned  with  success.  I  am  conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  my  intentions. 
In  justice,  therefore,  to  my  own  character,  and  for  the  satisfaction  of  my 
friends,  I  must  request  a  court  of  iufitiiry  into  my  conduct;  yet  every  per- 
sonal injury  shall  bo  buried  in  my  zeal  for  the  safety  and  happiness  of 
iny  country,  in  whoBe  cause  I  have  repeatedly  foutrht  and  bled,  and  am 
ready  at  all  times  to  risk  my  life.  1  shall  certainly  avoid  any  hasty  step 
(in  consequence  of  the  appoininients  which  have  taken  place,)  that  may 
tend  to  the  injury  of  my  country." 

Again: — 

"  in  my  last  I  intimated  to  your  Excellency  the  impossibility  of  my 
remaining  in  a  disagreeable  situation  in  the  army.  My  beiny  supcrst-ded 
must  be  viewed  as  an  implied  impeachment  of  my  character.  1  therefore 
requested  a  court  of  inquiiy  into  my  conduct.  I  believe  the  time  is  now 
at  hand  when  I  ca a  leave  this  department  without  any  dama<re  to  the 
l)ublic  interest.  When  that  is  the  case,  1  will  wait  on  your  Kxcellency, 
not  doubtinpf  my  request  will  bt;  granted,  and  that  I  shall  Ije  able  to 
acquit  myself  of  every  charge  which  malice  or  envy  can  bring  against 
me."' 

On  the  0th  of  March,  "Washiui^^ton  writes  to  his  confi- 
dential friend,  Tlicliard  Ilenrv  Lee,  inenil)er  of  Congress 
from  Virginia,  saying : 

"  I  am  anxious  to  know  v/hether  General  Arnold's  non-promotion  was 
owing  to  accident  or  design,  and  the  cause  of  it.  Surely  a  more  active, 
a  more  spiiitod  and  sensible  ofUcer  fills  no  department  in  your  army. 
Not  seeing  him,  then,  in  the  list  of  Major-Generals,  and  no  mention 
made  of  him,  gives  mo  uneasiness,  as  it  is  not  to  be  presumed,  being 
the  oldest  brigadier,  that  he  will  continue  in  the  service  under  such  a 
slight."  2 

On  the  tliird  of  April,  Washington  again  wrote  to  Arnold 
on  this  subject,  as  follows: 

"MonRrsTOWN.  3d  Apnl,  1777. 

•'Dfar  Sir:  It  is  needless  forme  to  say  much  upon  a  subject  which 
must  undoubtedly  give  you  a  good  deal  of  uneasiness.     I  confess  I  was 

1.    Spnrk'R  WHtinus  of  Wnshincton,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  R45-310. 

'i.  Spnrks'  Writings  of  Wiisliington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  ii')!.  As  an  illustrntion  of  Con- 
gress' disregard  of  Washington's  wishes,  ho  wrote  to  Itichard  Henry  Lee,  in  regard 
to  the  appointment  of  Conwny  as  Miijor  General:  "I  thinii  it  will  he  ii  fatiil  blow 
to  the  existence  of  the  army  ;"  and  yet  Congiess  appointed  Conway.  Writings  of 
Washington,  Vol.  V,  p.  484. 


I 
I 

! 


HIS   PATIlIOTLS^r   AND   HIS   TREASOX. 


121) 


i    I 


IS 


sm'itrisod  whon  I  rlid  not  sof  your  name  in  the  list  of  Major-Goneral-, 
and  was  so  fully  of  opinion  that  there  was  poine  mistake  in  lln"  matter, 
that,  as  you  nay  recoUecl,  1  desireil  you  not  to  take  any  iiasty  step  before 
the  intention  of  ('oiijj:ress  was  fully  known.  'Hit;  point  does  not  now 
admit  of  a  doubt,  anil  is  of  so  dt;lieate  a  nature  tliat  1  will  i.ot  even 
imdertake  to  advise.  Your  own  feelings  must  be  your  puide.  As  no 
partcular  chart;;!'  is  alle<i-ed  against  you,  1  do  not  soe  upon  what  f,'round 
you  can  demand  a  eourti  of  inquiry.  Besides,  public  bodies  are  not 
amenable  lor  their  actions.  They  place  and  displace  at  pleasure;  and 
all  tlie  satisfaction  that  an  individual  can  obtain  when  he  is  overlooked, 
is,  if  innocent,  a  consciousness  that  he  has  not  deserved  such  treatment 
for  his  honest  exertions.  Your  determination  not  to  quit  your  present 
connnand  while  any  danger  to  the  public  might  ensue  from  your  leaving 
it,  deserves  my  thanks,  and  justly  entitles  you  to  the  thanks  of  your 
country. 

"General  Greene,  who  has  lately  been  at  Philadelphia,  took  occasioi\ 
to  inquire  upon  what  jiriiciple  the  Congress  proccciled  in  their  late  pm- 
motion  of  general  otticers.  He  was  informed  that  the  mendjers  Irom 
each  State  seemed  to  insist  upon  having  a  proportion  of  general  officers 
adequate  to  th.e  number  of  men  which  they  furnish,  and  that,  as  Con- 
necticut had  already  two  Major-(jenerals,  it  was  their  iuU  share.  I  con- 
fess this  is  a  strange  mode  of  reasoning,  but  it  may  serve  to  show  you 
that  the  promotion,  which  was  due  to  your  seniority,  was  not  overlooked 
for  want  of  merit  in  you.  I  am,  dear  sir,  yours,  etc."  ^ 

Arnold,  in  consequence  of  tlie  advice  of  Wasliini^ton, 
did  not  resign,  sayinc:,  "Every  personal  injury  shall  be 
buried  in  my  zeal  for  the  safety  and  ha])j)iness  of  my 
country,  in  Avliose  cant-'"  I  have  re])eatedly  fought  and  bled, 
and  am  ready  at  all  time.s  to  risk  my  life." 

He  was  not,  more  than  otlier  officers,  unduly  or  unusually 
sensitive  about  his  rank  and  j)romotion.  Later  in  the  year 
1TT7,  a  report  reached  camp  that  a  French  officer,  named 
Ducondray,  bad  been  appointed  l)y  Congress  a  Major-(Jen- 
eral  in.  the  American  army,  and  M'as  to  comnnind  the  artil- 
lery. Without  waiting  to  learn  whether  the  report  was 
true.  Generals  Greene,  Sullivan  and  Knox,  each  wrote  to  Con- 
gress a  laconic  letter,  dated  on  the  same  day,  and  each  request- 
ing, if  the  report  was  true,  permission  to  retire.     General 

1.    sparks'  Writings  uf  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  :;77-S. 


liliB   t' 


!':» 


130 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Xatlianicl  Greene  says:  "If  tlic  report  be  true,  it  will  lay 
me  under  the  necessity  of  resigninf^  my  commission,  as  liis 
ajipointment  (Ducondray's)  supercedes  me  in  command." ' 

Ducondray  was  not  appointed,  but  tbe  incident  is  intro- 
duced to  show  the  feeling  among  the  American  officers  on 
the  subject.  An  opportunity  soon  occurred  to  test  Arnold's 
sincerity,  when  he  declared  his  readiness,  notwithstanding 
the  indignity  put  upon  him,  "to  risk  his  life  for  his  coun- 
try." 

Smarting  under  this  injustice,  on  his  route  from  Provi- 
dence to  Philadelphia — to  ask  an  investigation  of  his  con- 
duct,—  in  passing  through  Connecticut  he  stopped  at  New 
Haven  to  visit  his  sister  and  liis  children.  AVliile  there  he 
heard  of  tlie  invasion  of  that  State  by  Governor  Tryon 
with  two  thousand  British  tioops.  They  had  landed  near 
Fairfield,  marched  towards  Dan  bury  where  a  large  amount 
of  public  stores  had  been  collected.  Tbey  reached  Dan- 
bury  on  the  26th,  at  four  p.  m.,  and  burned  the  stores  and 
a  part  of  the  town.  Generals  Wooster  and  Sillinian  had 
liastily  collected  a  few  hundred  militia,  and  about  one  hun- 
dred continentals  ;  amounting  in  all  to  some  six  hundred, 
and  pushed  forward  in  pursuit  of  Tryon.  Hastening  from 
Xew  Haven,  Arnold  joined  them  at  Eeading,  and  they 
all  marched  to  Bethel,  four  miles  from  Danbury,  arriving 
there  at  two  o'clock  at  night.  Here  they  learned  that  Dan- 
])ury  had  been  burned,  with  o.U  the  public  stores,  and  that 
the  British  Avere  preparing  to  retire  to  their  ships. 

"At  day -light  on  the  following  morning,  Arnold  and 
Silliman  proceeded  with  four  hundred  men  to  Kidgelield. 
with  the  design  of  intercepting  the  enemy  on  their  return; 
and  Wooster  with  two  hundred  men  took  another  route  to 
harrass  the  rear  of  the  enemy,"  Wooster  soon  came  up  with 
the  British,  and  a  skirmish  ensued  in  which  the  brave  old 
general  received  a  mortal  wound. 

1,   Sparks'  Writings  of  \\  ashiiigton,  note  on  rage  4ti0  of  Vol  IV. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS  TREASON. 


131 


By  the  time  Arnold  arrived  at  Ridgefield,  the  militia  of 
his  State,  proud  of  his  fame,  and  eager  to  fight  under  liis 
leadership,  had  flocked  to  his  standard,  so  that  his  numbers 
exceeded  five  hundred  men. 

lie  liastily  constructed  a  barricade  of  carts,  logs,  stones 
and  earth,  across  the  highway  along  which  the  British  were 
coming.  His  position  was  well  chosen,  the  street  narrow, 
and  flanked  en  the  one  side  by  a  ledge  of  rocks,  and  on  the 
other  by  a  house  and  barn.  Behind  this  barricade,  he  formed 
his  men,  and  awaited  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  At  three 
o'clock  Tryon  approached  at  the  head  of  nearly  two  thou- 
sand troops,  marching  in  solid  column,  and  as  soon  as  he 
discovered  the  position  of  Arnold,  he  opened  a  heavj'firein 
front,  and  sent  out  detachments  on  each  flank,  to  turn  them 
and  get  into  the  rear  of  the  Americans.  The  British  fire 
was  returned  with  great  spirit,  and  Arnold  with  his  small 
force,  held  his  position  against  four  times  their  number, 
for  some  time.  At  length,  the  British  flanking  party, 
under  General  Agnew,  gained  the  summit  of  the  ledge  of 
rocks,  when  Arnold  ordered  his  men  to  retreat.  At  al)out  the 
same  time,  a  whole  platoon  of  General  Agnew's  infantry, 
who  had  gained  the  rocks  above  him,  came  running  down, 
and  when  not  more  than  thirty  yards  distant,  all  fired  at  him. 
His  horse  received  nine  balls  and  instantly  fell  dead. '  lie, 
strange  as  it  seems,  was  not  hit.  For  a  moment,  his  feet 
being  entangled  in  his  stirrups,  he  was  unable  to  rise.  See- 
ing his  position,  a  soldier  rushed  forward  with  fixed  bayonet 
to  run  him  through;  approaching  Arnold^  as  he  sat  still 
entangled  on  his  dead  horse,  the  soldier  called  out:  "Sur- 
render! yon  are  my  prisoner!"  "Not  yet,"  exclaimed 
Arnold,  coolly,  and  drawing  a  ])istol  fvoiu  his  holster,  he 
shot  the  soldier  dead.     At  the  same  moment,  extricating 

1.  Lossins's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution  Vol.  I,  p.  ioo.  See  note  in  which  it  is 
fitnted  tlmt  nine  bullet  holes  were  found  in  Arnold's  dead  horse,  as  he  was  skinned 
by  some  nuigliboring  farmers. 


i 


132 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


fj 


m 

himself,  lie  spraiif^  wpon  his  feet,  and  leaped  away  into  a 
thickly  wooded  swamp  near  by,  ibllowed  by  a  shower  of 
balls — but  again  he  escaped  nntouched.  "So  remarkable 
an  exhibition  of  cool  and  steady  courage  in  a  moment  of 
extreme  danger  lias  rarely  been  witnessed."  '  The  British 
went  into  camp  within  a  mile  of  Hidgelield  until  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  when  they  resumed  their  march  towards 
their  ships,  at  Compo. 

As  Tryon  approached  Norwalk,  he  learned  that  the  inde- 
fatigable, and  apparently  invulnerable,  Arnold,  was  again 
in  the  saddle,  and  was  rallying  the  scattered  militia  to  cut 
him  off. 

"  Being  reinforced,  he  hung  upon  their  flanks  and  rear, 
throughout  their  entire  march  to  their  ships,  attacking 
them  at  every  assaila])le  point.-'  *  At  Compo,  aided  by  a 
portion  of  Lamb's  artillery,  it  is  probable  the  whole  detach- 
ment would  have  been  captured,  had  not  Sir  William  Ers- 
kine  landed  a  party  of  marines  from  the  ships,  and  with 
these  fresh  troops  drove  the  Americans  back.  During  all 
this  fighting,  i\rnold,  reckless  of  danger,  at  the  head  of  the 
attacking  ])arty,  led  the  militia  in  person,  encouraged  them 
by  voice  and  example,  until  his  horse — his  second  horse — 
was  wounded  in  the  neck  and  disabled.  Arnold  still 
escaped,  although  a  bullet  passed  through  the  collar  of  his 
coat.  In  such  a  manner  did  he  make  good  his  words  to 
"Washington,  that  he  Avas  still,  notwithstanding  the  indig- 
nity put  upon  him — "read}'-  at  all  times  to  risk  his  life  for 
the  safety  and  happiness  of  his  country." 

The  news  of  these'  exploits  passed  rapidly  to  Congress, 
and  extorted  from  that  body  the  promotion,  which,  in  the 
judgment  of  "Washington,  had  been  so  unjustly  withheld. 
Congress,  on  the  twentieth  of  May,  also  passed  the  follow- 
ing resolution: 

1.  Sparks'  Life  o.'  Arnold,  p,  91, 

2,  Sparks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  91. 


HIS   PATKIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


100 


I 


"That the  Quarter-Master  General  be  directed  to  procure  a  hors?,  and 
present  the  same,  properly  caparisoned,  to  Major-General  Arnold,  in  the 
name  of  this  Con^jress,  as  a  token  of  their  ajiprobation  of  liis  paUant 
conduct  in  the  action  against  the  enemy,  in  their  late  enterprise-  to  Dan- 
bury,  in  which  General  Arnold  had  one  horse  killed  and  another 
wounded."  ' 

Congress  also,  on  the  same  da}',  ordered,  "That  the 
letter  from  General  Arnold,  with  the  papers  enclosed,  be 
referred  to  the  Board  of  War,  together  with  such  com- 
])laints  as  had  been  lodged  against  him."  This  referred 
especially  to  the  charges  of  Lt.-Colonel  J3rown,  and  all 
other  "complaints"  against  him.  On  the  23d  of  May, 
the  Board  of  War  reported  that  they  had  had  a  conference 
with  General  Arnold  concerning  the  inijnitationsof  J'rown; 
had  examined  original  letters,  orders  and  })a]>ers,  giving  an 
account  of  his  conduct;  confirmed  by  the  relations  of  ]\Ir. 
Carroll,  one  of  the  late  commissioners  to  Canada,  then  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  War,  and  that  this  evidence  had 
ijiven  entire  satisfaction  to  the  Board,  concerning  the  Gen- 
oral's  character  and  conduct,  so  cruelly  and  (jroundlcsshj 
aspersed. " 

Congress  immediately  confirmed  the  report.  But  not- 
withstanding all  this,  for  some  reason  Congress  did  not 
give  him  his  projier  rank;  he  was  still  out-ranked  by  the 
live  Major  Generals,  by  whom  he  had  been  superceded  on 
the  lyth  of  Februarv.  lie  who  had  been  the  senior  Briga- 
dier  General,  was  now  at  the  foot  of  the  Major  Generals, 

1.  Journals  of  Congress,  Vol.  Til,  p.  19i. 

2.  The  text  of  the  resolution  is  as  follows:  "The  Poanl  of  War  reported  tliat 
they  had  had  a  conference  witli  Major-General  Arnold,  concerning  the  imputations 
cast  upon  ;ms  cluiracter,  contained  in  a  haml-liill.  dated  I'itt^licld,  April  12th,  1777, 
and  snbscribci',  .(olin  Brown— laiil  befiire  Congress  by  the  (icneral  in  his  letter  to 
tlic  Pri  sident-  'hat  the  Cieneral  laid  liclorc  tlio  Hoanl  a  variety  of  original  letters, 
orders  and  other  papers,  which,  toL'ctbcr  with  tlic  (Icncral's  account  of  his  conduct, 
confirmed  bv  the  relation  of  Mr.  (am  ill,  oiic  ni'tlio  late  cmnmissioners  toCainida— 
now  amem')or  of  this  board— luive  given  entire  salisl'action  to  tliis  Bi  ard,  con- 
<'erning  the  General's  character  and  conduct,  so  cruelly  and  grouitdlcsaly  aspersed  in 
the  publication. 

■'Scsolved,  That  the  said  repct  be  confirmed."  Ditto  p.  i!)0. 


ri 


II 


mm 


134 


LIFE   OF  BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


all  his  late  juniors  outrariking  liiin.  There  is  an  inconsis- 
tency and  a  mystery  in  regard  to  this  action  of  Congress, 
difficult  10  understand.  General  Wasliington  himself  could 
not  understand  it.  On  the  5th  of  May,  he  wrote  to  the 
President  of  Congress,  saying:  "General  Arnold's  promo- 
tion gives  me  much  pleasure.  lie  has  certainly  discovered 
in  every  instance,  where  he  has  had  an  opportunity,  much 
hravery,  activity  and  enterprise.  JJut  what  will  be  done 
about  his  rank  ?  He  will  not  act,  most  probably,  under 
those  he  commanded  but  a  few  weeks  ago." ' 

Washington,  sensible  of  the  delicacy  of  Arnold's  posi- 
tion, gave  him  the  command  on  the  Hudson,  which  w\'is 
then  regarded  as  honorable  a  post  as  any  officer  could  hold. 
On  the  7th  of  May,  Washington  writes  to  General  McDou- 
gal,  saying:  "I  have  desired  him  (General  Arnold)  to  come 
immediately  to  Peekskill.  *  *  You  will  find  him  a  man 
of  judgment."     *    *  * 

Arnold  however  did  not  accept  this  position,  but  asked 
and  obtained  leave  to  go  to  Pliiladolphia,  and  ask  the  resto- 
ration of  his  proper  rank  and  that  his  accounts  should  be 
settled.  Washington  gave  him  a  letter  to  the  President  ot 
Congress  stating  the  object  of  his  visit,  and  requesting  that 
Arnold  should  have  "an  opportunity  of  vindicating  himselt, 
and  his  innocence."'  He  adds  "It  is  needless  to  say  any- 
thing of  this  gentleman's  military  character.  It  is  univer- 
sally known  that  he  has  always  distinguished  himself  as  a 
judicious,  brave  officer,  of  great  activity,  enterprise  and 
perseverance." 

On  his  arrival,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Congress,  which 
shows  how  deeply  he  felt  wounded  and  grieved : 

•'  I  am  exceedingly  unhappy,"  said  he,  "to  find  that  after  having  made 


1.  SparKs'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  408. 

2.  Sparks'  VVritin.>,s  of  Wasliinj?ton,  Vol.  IV,  p.  410. 

3.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,    Vol.  IV.   p.  416. 


Ills    TATKIOTISM    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


135 


every  sacrifice  of  fortune,  ease  and  domestic  happiness  to  servo  my  coun- 
try, I  am  publ.cly  impeached  (in  particular  by  Lt. -Colonel  Brown,)  of  a 
catalogue  of  crimes,  which,  if  true,  ought  to  subject  nie  to  disgrace,  in- 
famy, and  the  just  resentment  of  my  countrymen.  Conscious  of  the  rec- 
titude of  my  intentions,  however  I  may  have  erred  in  judgment,  I  must 
request  the  favor  of  Congress  to  point  out  some  mode  V)y  which  my  con- 
duct, and  that  of  my  accusers,  may  be  inquired  into,  and  justice  done  to 
the  innocent  and  injun.'d.  ' ' 

This  was  the  letter  which,  with  the  other  papers,  were 
referred  to  the  Board  of  "War,  as  above  set  forth. 

On  tlie  day  this  petition  was  presented,  May  20th, 
Ilichard  Henry  Lee  wrote  from  Congress  to  Mr.  Jefferson, 
saying:  "One  plan,  now  in  frequent  nse,  is  to  assassinate 
the  characters  of  the  friends  of  America,  in  everyplace  and 
by  every  means;  at  this  moment  they  are  now  reading  in 
Congress  an  audacious  attempt  of  this  kind  against  the 
brave  General  Arnold." ' 

But  Congress  did  not  restore  his  proper  rank — nor  was 
any  action  taken  on  the  letter  "  of  General  Washington." 
Congress  had  declared  that  they  were  entirely  satisfied  with 
the  conduct  of  General  Arnold;  the}'  declared  the  charges 
againsi  him  "cruel  and  groundless,"  and  yet  they  did 
not  do  him  the  justice  to  restore  his  rank.  Those  who 
knew  him  best,  and  whose  opportunities  for  learning  his 
true  character  were  most  favorable,  were  his  warmest 
friends.  Washington,  Schuyler  and  Gates,  up  to  and  after 
this  time,  the  commissioners  of  Congress  to  Canada,  Chase 
and  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  who  had  been  in  his  camp,  and 
among  the  troops  in  Canada,  sent  there  to  investigate  and 
correct  wrongs  and  abuses — all  bear  testimony  to  his  merits, 
and  all  at  this  time  were  his  friends.  To  what  extent  his 
treatment  by  Congress  is  to  be  attributed  to  envy,  jealousy, 

or  other  unworthy  motives,  it  is  now  perhaps  impossible  to 
determine. 


II    i 


1.  Sparks' WritiiiKS  of  WiisliiiiKton.    Vol.  TV,  p.  ^17. 

2.  Sparks'  Writiiig.s  of  Wasliiiiytou,  Vol.  IV  —note  to  page  418. 


13G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


"NVlulo  in  Pliiladelpliia,  Arnold  presented  his  accounts, 
and  asiked  the  aj)pointnient  of  a  committee  to  investigato 
and  audit  them.  These  accounts  were  voluminous,  running 
hack  to  the  time  when  he  started  from  (•ambridiru  on  the 
expedition  to  Quebec,  through  all  his  campaigns  in  Canada 
and  on  Lake  Champlain,  down  to  the  battle  of  Yalcour 
Island.  During  all  this  time  the  army  was  very  imperfectly 
organized,  the  supply  of  money  was  inadequate — what  was 
furnished  often  un-current;  the  business  of  purchases, 
payments,  and  money  affairs  generally,  rested  in  a  very- 
large  degree  with  the  commanders  of  detachments. 

In  June,  1770,  in  a  letter  from  St.  Johns,  writing  to  Gen- 
eral Sullivan,  Arnold  says:  "  I  have  borrowed  several  suuis 
of  hard  money.  *  *  The  poor  soldiers  receive  no  benelit 
from  their  pay  (it  being  in  uncurrent  paper),  and  starve  in 
the  midst  of  plenty,  with  their  ])(»ckets  full  of  money."  ' 
Writing  to  the  commissaries  of  Congress,  June  '2nd,  1770, 
Arnold  says:  "Everything  is  in  the  greatest  confusion." 
Not  one  contractor,  commissary  or  quarter-nnister.  I  am 
obliged  to  do  the  duty  of  all."  "  In  May,  1776,  at  Sorel,  he 
had  to  purchase  for  the  troops  beef,  wheat,  flour,  blankets, 
tents,  clothing,  etc.  He  says:  "A.  quarter-master  and 
commissar}'  are  nnich  needed  here;  I  have  so  much  on 
hand  I  can  hardly  get  one  minute  to  write."'  To  Chase, 
one  of  the  commissaries,  he  says,  May  loth:  "Will  it  not 
be  advisable  and  justifiable  to  seize  on  all  such  goods  in 
Montreal  as  we  are  in  absolute  necessity  for,  and  pay  them 
the  value?     This  I  submit  to  your  better  judgment."  * 

Arnold  had  sometimes  used  his  own  means,  and  his  credit, 
which  at  that  time  seems  to  have  been  good  in  Canada,  to 
relieve  the  most  pressing  needs  of  the  suffering  soldiers.     At 

].  Am.  Archives,  4th  S.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  or,l. 

•J.  Am.  Arcliivcs,  fith  S.,  Vol.  I.  p.  1(15 

a.  Am.  Archives,  4th  s.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  .■i79-5S0. 

4.  Am.  Areliives,  4tti  S.,  Vol,  VI,  pji.  S.'^O-SSl. 


iH^B 

.i^^Hj 

m 

il 

jBt 

HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


11^7 


the  coinmcncenient  of  the  war  he  was  in  easy  circnmstancos, 
a  pros2)erous  and  enterprising  merchant.  He  said  that  in 
tlie  service  of  liis  country  he  had  sacrificed  the  "  greater 
])art  of  a  handsome  fortnne."  lie  was  always  profuse  in  his 
expenditures,  and  was  a  man  who,  if  he  had  means  or  credit, 
would  never  hesitate  one  moment  in  using  lioth  for  the 
relief  of  his  soldiers,  and  to  promote  his  ruling  passion  for 
military  snccess.  ITndouhtedly  the  accounts  of  his  expendi- 
tures, seemed  t)  the  committee  of  investigation  very  large: 
and  he  had  enemies  who  did  not  hesitate  to  charge  him  with 
an  attempt  to  defraud  the  country,  for  which  lie  had  been 
so  freely  ex})osing  his  life.  In  the  ahseiu^e  of  any  proof  of 
fraud,  it  is  more  charitable — proljably  more  just — to  attrib- 
ute the  large  claims  which  he  presented,  to  the  confusion 
in  which  atl'airs  had  been  managed,  and  to  the  necessities 
of  the  service — the  sufferings  of  the  sohliers,  which  had 
intluccd  him  to  use  his  own  means  and  credit  to  the  utmost. 
While  the  committee  of  Congress  were  examining  his 
accounts,  he  was  a])pointed  to  the  command  of  the  army 
then  gathering  in  the  neighborhood  of  Philadelphia,  to 
watch  the  movements  of  General  Howe.  AVhen  this 
oliicer  made  a  demonstration  towards  I'hiladelphia,  Arnold 
was  sent  fVn'ward  to  the  Delaware  above  Trenton,  to  co-ope- 
rate with  Washington  in  opposing  his  advance.  This  duty 
he  discharged  with  his  usual  zeal,  and  was  as  usual  eager  to 
light.  AVriting  to  Mifflin,  June  12th,  1777,  he  says:  "  Fight 
the  enemy  wo  must,  whenever  our  reinforcements  are  in. 
AVe  cannot  avoid  it  with  lionor;  our  men  are  in  high 
spirits."'  But  the  British  General  retiret^  to  Brunswick, 
and  Arnold  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  again  sought  a 
settlement  of  his  accounts.  The  committee  having  the 
matter  in  charge  did  not  report,  nor  did  Congress  act  ujion 
his   reiterated    re  ^aest   that   his    proper   rank   should    be 

1.    Remembrancer,  Vol.  V,  p.  208. 


)    1 


"If 


138 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


restored.  His  jiatiencc  became  exliansted,  and  his  woiiiided 
])ridc  and  impetuous  temper  would  not  Bubmit.  lie  wrote 
a  letter  to  Congress  tendering  Ins  resignation,  but  deelaring 
that  he  was  driven  to  it  only  by  a  sense  of  injustice;  and 
])rot'e6sing  an  ardent  love  for  his  country,  and  his  readiness 
to  risk  his  life  in  her  cause;  but  added:  "  Honor  is  a  sacrifice 
no  man  ought  to  make;  as  I  received,  so  I  wish  to  transmit 
it  to  posterity." 

On  the  very  day  this  letter  from  Arnold  was  presented 
to  Congress,  tliat  body  received  a  letter  from  General  Wash- 
ington, dated  July  10th,  1777,  communicating  the  fact  that 
General  Burgoyne  was  advancing  along  the  old  war  path 
from  Canada,  determined  to  possess  himself  of  all  our  posts 
in  that  quarter,  and  threatening  to  advance  still  further  to 
Albau}'  and  the  Hudson,  and  earnestly  recommending  that 
they  should  send  Arnold  to  the  field  of  danger.     He  says: 

"  *  *  Upon  this  occasion  I  would  take  the  liberty  to  siip^'est  to  Con- 
gress the  propriety  of  sendin<!f  an  active,  spirited  oflicer  to  conduct  and 
lead  them  on.  If  General  Arnold  has  settled  his  affairs,  and  can  be  spared 
from  Philadelphia,  I  would  recommend  him  for  this  business,  and  that 
he  should  innnediately  set  out  for  the  northern  department.  He  is  active, 
judicious  and  brave,  and  an  otticer  in  whom  the  militia  will  repose  great 
confidence.  Besides  this,  he  is  well  acquainted  with  that  country,  and 
with  the  routes  and  most  important  passes  and  defiles  in  it.  I  do  not 
think  he  can  render  more  siynal  st.'rvices,  or  be  more  usefully  employed  at 
this  time  than  in  this  way.  I  am  persuaded  his  presence  and  activity 
will  animate  the  militia  f,''reatly,  and  spur  them  on  to  a  becomin<?  conduct. 
I  could  wish  him  to  be  enjrayed  in  a  more  agreeable  service,  to  be  with 
better  troops,  but  circumstances  call  for  his  exertions  in  this  waj',  and  I 
have  no  doubt  of  his  adding  much  to  the  honors  he  has  already  ac- 
quired." ^    *    * 

And  again,  on  the  12th,  "Washington  says  to  Congress: 
"  In  my  last  I  took  the  liberty  of  suizgesting  the  projiriety 
of  sending  an  active  officer  to  animate  the  militia  that  may 
assemble  for  checking  General  Burgoyne's  progress,  and 
mentioned  General  Arnold  for  that  pur])ose.     *     *     Being 

1.    Sparks'  Writings  of  Wasliingtou,  Vol.  IV.  pp.  48.'),  487. 


HIS   TATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASON. 


139 


more  and  more  convinced  of  the  important  advantivf^cs  that 
will  result  from  his  presence  and  conduct,  I  have  thoui^ht 
it  my  duty  to  rcjpcat  my  wishes  on  the  subject,  and  that  he 
may  without  a  moment's  loss  of  time,  set  out  from  l*hi!a- 
de]i)hia  for  that  purpose."' 

These  letters  from  his  chief  soothed  the  wounded  feelings 
of  Arnold,  and  the  mention  of  a  campaign  against  Ijur- 
goyne  was  to  him  like  the  sound  of  the  trum[)et  to  the  war- 
horse. 

Instantly  he  asked  leave  to  suspend  his  request  for  ])er- 
mission  to  resign,  only  adding  that  he  would  leave  it  with 
Congress,  and  made  no  doubt  they  would  listen  to  it  when 
the  service  was  over.  lie  had  determined  to  drive  J*ur- 
goy.ie  back  to  Canada  or  die.  lie  went  even  farther,  and 
''  volunteered,"  says  Sparks,  "  an  act  of  magnanimity,  which 
certainly  must  extort  ])raiso  if  it  cannot  win  esteem."' 
Knowing  that  St.  Clair  was  in  command  in  the  northeni 
army,  and  that  he  was  one  who  had  been  his  junior,  and 
one  of  the  five  promoted  over  him,  he  generously  waived  all 
considerations  of  rank  and  pride,  and  declared  he  would 
"  do  his  duty  faithfully  in  the  rank  he  then  held,  and  trust 
to  the  justice  of  his  claims  for  a  future  reparation." 

Such  was  the  spirit  with  which  Arnold  left  I*hiladelj)hia 
to  join  Schuyler  in  the  cam})aign  against  lUirgoyne, 

The  thrilling  story  of  that  canijiaign,  and  the  ])art  that 
Arnold  bore  in  it,  will  be  the  subject  of  the  following 
chapters. 

1.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Wiishini,'ton,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  489-190. 

2.  Sparlcs'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  99. 


I 


1;   ' 


ii'i 


li  ! 


i 


CHArXEIl    VIII. 

CAMPAIGN    ON    THE    MOHAWK,    AND    RELIEF    OF    FORT 

STANWJX. 

"He  (Arnold)  ianolivp,  jiKliciniis  and  bravo,  niul  an  olTiccr  in  whom  the  militia 
have  gicat  coiifldciuo."—  W'dfhinoton. 

"  III  my  last  I  Misficsti'd  an  nctivc  dlllcor  to  fltiimatc  the  militia  who  may  assi'm- 
•  lU',  l(ir  I'lifckiiiK  <iiiu  ml  l'iirj,'(iyiu''s  iiniLrrcss,  and  iiu'iitiuncd  (Iciicral  AriKilil. 
licint;  iiKirc  and  nuirt'  ronviiiccil  ol  tlic  impni'tant  advimtiiK''^'  "I  hi!*  iirc^cnco,  I 
havo  ilmnjilit  il  my  duly  to  rojifal  my  wislits,  thut  hu  umy  wilhout  oiio  moment's 
lo.ss  of  time  sel  out."—  Wunliiiigton.  1 

Pt.  I.kcku  INVF.STS  Four   Stanwix— IlERKiMF.n  r.oiNG  TO  ITS  Relief,  Falls  into 

AN    AMIUSiADE,  and    at   THE  UATTLK    OK  OltlSKANY  IS    MoKTALLY   WOLNDED— 
AltNOLD  VoI.UNTEEHS  TO   CJO  TO   THE   llELIEF  OF  (iANSKVlKlUT— UeACIIES  GEH'IAN 

Flats,  and  ALTiiouciii  a  Council  of  War  Resolve  that  tiiey  mist  Waitfou 

1{E1NF(.U<KMKNTS,  HE  DETEItMINES  TO  "  I'USH  FOUWAUD  AND  IlAZAliD  A  lUrrLE," 
HATHE'l   THAN   SEE     THE    CiARItlSON   FALL— He  lUyOUTS  TO   A    KUSE— FHIGHTEN8 

THE  Indians,  who  Abandon  the  Siege,  and  Stanwix  is  Relieved. 

TiiK  third  year  of  the  war  was  now  o])enin^,  and  as  yet 
no  lU'C'isive  rer'dts  liad  been  readied.  Ko  great  victories 
liad  been   ac  ,  nor  had  any  hii-ije  army  Ijeen  captured 

on  either  .fasliington's  wise  Fabian  policy  would  in 

timet:  an  enemy  fighting  three  thousand  miles  from 

liome.  _ -le  English  began  to  realize  this,  and  the  British 
ministry  meant  to  make  the  campaign  of  Ihirgoyne  in  1777 
decisive.  The  plan  wa:;  simple,  but  skillful,  and  if  success- 
ful, might  in  its  results  have  realized  the  ho])es  of  its  pro- 
jectors. The  principal  feature  was  the  expedition  of  Bur- 
goyne,  which  was  to  move  from  Quebec  by  the  St.  Lawrence, 

1.    Washiuglon  to  Congress.    Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV  p.  487-489. 

(14(1) 


.1. 


ITIS   PATRIOTIS>r   AXD    IIFS   TRKASOX. 


141 


Luke  C'lianiplain,  and  the  Lniiks  of  the  irudnon,  to  Alhniiv. 
Auxiliary  and  co-operative  with  this,  was  another  expedi- 
tion under  St.  Leper,  whicli,  passing  u])  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  Lake  Ontario  to  Oswego,  was  to  push  thn»ugli  hy  way 
of  "Wood  Creek  and  the  Oneida  Lake,  into  the  ricli  valley  of 
the  IMoliawk,  capturing  on  its  way  ohl  Fort  Stanwix,  then 
called  Fort  Schuyler,  where  the  city  of  Home  now  stands; 
thence  along  the  Mohawk  to  join  Biirgoyno  at  Alhany. 
^feaiiwhile,  General  Kowe  was  to  advance  up  the  Hudson 
from  the  city  of  Kew  York,  and  form  a  junction  with  the 
combined  forces  of  St.  Leger  and  Bnrgoyne.  AV^ith  St. 
Leger  was  a  large  body  of  Indians,  under  Sir  John  John- 
son and  Joseph  Brant  (Thayandenega),  one  of  the  ablest 
and  most  celebrated  of  the  Indian  chiefs.  The  fall  of 
Fort  Schuyler,  and  the  success  of  the  expedition,  would 
expose  all  the  settlements  west  of  Albany,  most  of  which 
were  then  organized,  as  Tryon  county,  to  the  barbarous  cru- 
elties of  the  savages.  How  appalling  these  would  have 
been,  the  massacre  of  men,  women  and  .children  at  AVyo- 
ming,  Cherry  Valley  and  other  places,  but  too  well  indicate. 

The  success  of  Burgoyne's  campaign  would  have  cut  oji' 
Xew  England  from  the  other  States,  and  have  jdaced  the 
])owerful  State  of  New  York  in  the  complete  control  of  tlu' 
I'ritish.  It  is  v  t,  therefore,  surprising  that  both  the  friends 
and  foes  of  American  independence,  looked  upon  the  result, 
as  likely  to  be  extremely  important,  ])erhaps  absolutely 
decisive.  "This  campaign  will  end  the  war,"  said  Roidesel, 
one  of  Burgoyne's  most  distinguished  officers 

The  theater  of  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  picturesque  in 
America;  and  has  been  long  known  as  hereinbefore  stated, 
as  the  battle  ground  on  which  the  fate  of  America  between 
France  and  Great  Britain  had  been  often  contested.  The 
lakes  of  the  north,  as  well  as  the  valleys  of  the  Mohawk  and 
the  Hudson,  had  often  been  the  pathway  of  French,  English, 


.^«Mr-'n--t— Ay-rtT.:?j'^rA.rf-«^l«» 


142 


LIFE   OF   BEXEDICT   ARNOLD. 


IM 


III 


Colonial  and  Indian  armies.  Composed  of  lakes  and  moun- 
tains, rivers  and  valleys,  dark  forests  and  fertile  fiats,  the 
country  was  interesting,  not  only  for  its  strategic  impor- 
tance, but  for  its  picturesque  beauty.  Most  of  this  vast 
region,  now  among  the  most  thickly  settled  and  highly  cul- 
tured parts  of  New  Yc  .,  was  in  1777  a  wilderness. 
Settlements  west  of  Albany  were  scattered  and  weak;  the 
people  exposed  alike  to  the  wild  animals  and  still  wilder 
and  more  savage  Indians.  Block-houses  for  defense  were 
still  common  among  the  settlers;  and  along  the  Mohawk 
the  little  stone  church  was  often  used  as  a  substitute  in 
case  of  attack. 

The  Tory  element  was  of  considerable  strength.  In  the 
Valley  of  the  Mohawk,  there  had  lived  for  several  years  in 
baronial  style,  in  "Johnson  Hall,"  the  family  of  Sir  William 
Johnson,  and  the  influence  of  this  family  over  the  Indians, 
with  whom  they  were  allied  by  marriage,  was  very  strong. 

Far  greater  difl'erences  in  social  rank  and  condition 
existed  at  that  time  in  New  York  than  in  most  of  the 
New  England  States.  Grants  of  lands  in  large  areas  had 
been  made  to  various  individuals,  and  as  the  law  of  entail 
and  primogeniture  then  existed,  these  lands  were  still  held 
in  very  large  tracts  by  the  descendants  of  the  grantees,  and 
the  landlords  lived  in  considerable  state,  and  exercised  lari^e 
influence  over  their  tenants  and  dependant-?.  Some  of  these 
large  land-holders  were  adherents  of  Great  Britain,  but  most 
of  the  historic  families  of  the  colonial  days  were  patriots, 
exercising  controlling  influence  in  their  State,  and  they 
made  themselves  felt  in  the  national  government.  The 
Clintons,  the  Livingstons,*  the  Van  Rensselaers,  the  Gane- 
voorts,  the  De  Lanceys,  the  Duers,  the  Jays  and  the  Schuy- 

1.  Livingston  "Informed  me  he  held  300,000  Rcres  of  Iru^."— Journal  of  Charles 
Carroll  to  Canada,  in  1776.  Van  Eenselaer  had  a  grant  of  twenty  miles  on  each 
<>ide  of  the  Hudson. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS    TREASON. 


113 


lers,  and  tlieir  associates,  were  very  important  personages  at 
tbo  Colonial  and  Ilevolntionary  period. 

In  no  pait  of  the  lte])nl)lic  are  the  changes  and  advance 
of  onr  country  more  strikingly  illustrated  than  in  this  val- 
ley. A  hundred  years  ago,  and  Fort  Stanwix  was  the 
frontier  post;  the  hark  canoe  of  the  Mohawk  and  Oneida 
Indians,  and  the  flat-boat  of  the  pioneer,  bore  the  few  sup- 
plies and  exchanges  taken  to  and  from  Albany  to  the  set- 
tlers. Now  tlie  lournev  from  the  site  of  Fort  Stanwix  at 
Kome,  past  Utica,  through  this  picturesque  valley  to 
Schenectady  and  A]l)aiiy,  is  along  a  canal  and  railway  that 
convey  the  travel  and  the  trade  of  the  continent,  and  over 
which  pass  a  nuniber  of  passengers  and  an  aniount  of  com- 
merce nowhere  exceeded  in  die  world. 

John  Burgo^Mie,  the  leader  of  the  expedition,  which  it 
was  confldently  hoped  would  end  the  war,  had  seen  servige 
and  won.  a  brilliant  reputation  as  a  soldier,  in  Portugal. 
He  was  connected  by  marriage  with  the  noble  house  of 
Derby;  was  popular  with  the  people,  a  favorite  at  court 
and  in  the  army;  and  every  means  was  jilaced  at  his  com- 
nuxnd  which  could  contribute  to  the  success  of  his  enter- 
prise. His  troops,  grenadiers,  infantry  and  artillery  were 
of  the  best  in  the  British  army.  He  had  under  him  Major- 
General  Pliillips  and  General  Fraser,  a  gallant  Scotchman, 
both  regarded  as  possessing  extraordinary  skill  and  ability; 
about  four  thousand  German  trooj)s,  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Eediesel,  and  a  large  number  of  Canadians,  Indians 
and  Royalists,  made  up  a  force  numbering  in  all  nine  or 
ten  thousand  men.  In  arms  and  appointments,  in  every- 
thing which  could  make  his  army  effective,  nothing  was 
omitted. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  this  carefully  prepared  engine  of 
destruction  moved  along  the  old  historic  Avar  patli  towards 
Crown  Point.     General  St.  Clair  occupied  Tieondoroga  and 


I 


3 


■n 


141 


LxFE   OF   BENEDICT   AKNOLD. 


Moimt  IndcpciKlcnce — tlic  former  the  old  fortress  into  wliicli 
Ethan  Allen  and  Arnold  liad  marched  side  by  side,  on  tlie 
10th  of  ^Fuy,  1775.  Fort  Independence  had  been  con- 
structed since  tliat  time.  Together,  these  two  posts  com- 
manded a  narrow  passage  of  the  lake,  and  this  had  been 
so  obstructed  as,  it  was  believed,  would  prevent  the  passage 
of  vessels;  but  unfortunately  both  these  fortifications  were 
themselves  completely  commanded  by  high  and  accessible 
elevations,  called  Sugar  Loaf  Hill  and  Mount  Hope,  and 
through  a  strange  oversight  these  comnif  -ding  positions 
had  been  left  unoccu]>ied. 

The  British  arrived  in  the  nei<j;hborhood  of  Ticonderoffa 
on  the  2nd  and  3d  of  July,  and  discovering  that  Sugar  Loaf 
Hill  was  unoccupied,  aiMl  iiiiding  on  investigation  that  it 
was  practicable  to  place  a  battery  on  its  summit,  during  the 
njght  of  the  4th  a  road  was  made  and  a  battery  placed  on 
the  top,  and  it  was  then  christene<l  by  the  Britisli  "  Mt, 
Defiance,"  as  from  it  the  guns  of  the  Americans  in  Ticon- 
deroga  could  be  defied.  At  dawn  of  day  on  the  5th,  Si". 
Clair  was  startled  by  the  intelligence  that  the  Ih-itish  flag- 
was  floating  from  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and  the  scarlet 
uniform  of  British  soldiers  could  be  seen  placing  heavy 
guns  in  battery  which  overlooked  and  commanded  his  posi- 
tion. A  council  of  war  was  called,  which  decided  the  posi- 
tion of  the  Americans  to  be  untenable,  and  arrangements 
were  immediately  made  for  retreat.  The  forts  Mere  aban- 
doned. St.  Clair  attemjited  to  escape  by  stealth,  but  his 
movement  was  discovered  and  he  was  hotly  pursued  by  the 
enemy,  who  captured  guns,  material  of  war,  baggage  and 
stores  in  large  quantities. 

Farther  up  the  lake  at  Skenesborough.  the  troops  hearing 
that  Tic(mderoga  had  been  abandoned,  set  fire  to  the  ves- 
sels, the  fort,  the  mills  and  block-houses,  and  retreated  to 
Fort   Anne.     Burgoyne   reported  to   Lord    Germain    that 


■^^^ 


Ills    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


145 


the  Amorican  iirmv  at  Ticoiiderciira  "  M'as  disbanded  and 
totally  ruined."  This  was  an  exaggeration;  the  inir.suit  was 
cheeked  at  Ilubberton,  by  AVarner  and  Francis,  and  St. 
Clair  reached  Fort  Edward  with  fifteen  hundred  continental 
troo])s.'  But  tlie  retreat  and  abandonment  of  the  defenses, 
which  were  supposed  to  be  strong,  and  before  which  the 
country  confidently  believed  the  enemy  would  be  checked 
and  held  at  bay,  if  not  repulsed,  cast  a  deep  gloom  over  the 
people.     Jjotli  Schuyler  and  St.  Clair  were  severely  censured. 

The  Indians  who  accompanied  the  expedition,  eml)oldened 
by  this  success,  and  thirsting  lor  blood  and  ])lunder,  began 
to  l>ring  in  scalps,  and  hanging  on  the  out-posts  of  the 
advancing  columns,  frequently  murdered  unarmed  parties, 
and  their  ferocity  was  often  exhibited  in  the  ruthless  scal])- 
ing  of  the  settlers,  not  sparing  women  and  children. 

On  the  27th  of  July,  Jane  McCrea,  a  beautiful  girl  of 
twenty  years  of  age,  betrothed  to  David  Jones,  a  loyalist  and 
Lieutenant  in  the  Jh-itish  service,  Avhile  riding  frtjm  Fort 
Edward  to  the  British  camp,  escorted  by  two  Indians,  was 
cruelly  killed  and  scalped.  This  sad  traged}',  made  more 
touching  by  the  beauty  of  the  victim,  has  for  a  century 
been  the  tlieme  of  poetry  and  romance.  The  hori-id  drama 
has  been  told  in  various  and  conflicting  narratives,  and  the 
exact  truth  is  involved  in  some  obscurity;  but  that  it 
touched  the  heart  and  nerved  the  arm  of  every  loyal  father, 
brother,  and  lover  in  the  American  settlements,  far  and 
near,  there  is  no  disjiute.  Each  realized  the  ]iossil)ility  that 
such  niiglit  be  the  fate  of  liis  own  wife,  daughter,  sister  or 
betrothed;  and  the  story  told  at  the  fireside  of  so  many 
liomes,  aroused  a  hatred  toward  the  British,  then  accused 
of  exciting  the  savages  against  the  Americans,  which, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  tragedy  has  not  died  out 
to  thi=   day.     The   accusation,   so  far  as   Burgoyne  was 

I.    Losslng's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution. 
10 


14G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


a- 
I 


concerned,  has  lorii^Leon  known  to  have  been  unjust.  He 
was  shocked  by  tlie  event,  caused  "  the  assassin  to  heliunted 
out,  and  tlireatened  liiin  with  death,  hut  par(h)ned  him  on 
bein;":  tokl  that  the  total  detection  of  the  Indians  would  have 
ensued  from  puttin<(his  threat  into  execution."'  ]^>ut  the 
touching  story  of  poor  Jenny  McCrea  brought  liundreds  of 
volunteers  to  oppose  Burgoyne,  who  might  otherwise  have 
remained  at  home. 

The  fall  of  Ticonderoga  and  the  retreat  of  St,  Clair 
alarmed  the  patriots,  gladdened  the  loyalists,  and  fixed  the 
wavering  Indians  to  what  thev  now  rcij-ardcd  as  the  str(»n<»;- 
est  side.  Yet  heavy  as  was  the  loss,  it  is  not  clear  but  that 
in  the  end  it  was  for  the  advantage  of  the  Amei-ican  cause. 
If  Burgoyne  had  been  repulsed  from  the  fortitications  at 
Ticonderoga,  having  command  of  the  lake,  he  could  at  all 
times  have  made  good  his  retreat;  but  he  was  now  advanc- 
ing so  far  into  the  interi(^r  that  he  must  either  ijet  throuixh 
to  Albany  or  be  captured.  His  advance  south  and  beyond 
water  communication  with  Canada,  secured  the  capture  of 
his  whole  army.  Yet  at  the  time  the  disasters  of  the  vVmer- 
icans  in  the  north,  and  the  approach  of  Burgoyne  with  his 
Indian  allies,  caused  a  depression  and  anxiety  scarcely 
equalled  during  the  war.  In  this  dark  Ikmu-  it  appears  that 
both  AYashington  and  8chuyler,  each  of  whom  knew  Arnold 
well,  thought  of  him  as  the  fittest  othcer  to  send  forward  to 
lead,  and  as  Washington  said  in  his  letter  to  Congress,  "to 
animate  the  militia  that  may  assemble  for  checking  Gen- 
eral Burgoyne's  progress;"  and  he  adds:  "being  more  and 
more  convinced  of  the  important  advantages  that  will 
result  from  his  presence  and  conduct,  I  have  thought  it  my 
duty  to  repeat  my  wishes,  that  he  may  set  out  without  a 
moment's  loss  of  time  for  that  purpose,"  ^     "  lie  is  active, 

1.  Rivnoroft's  History  of  the  United  States,  Vol.  IX,  p.  372. 

2.  Sparlts'  Writings  of  Wasliington,  Vul.  IV,  p.  4'JO, 


:  I' 


HIS  rATRioTis:vr  and  iits  treason. 


147 


jndicious  and  brave,"  and  "  I  liavonodonhtof  his  addini^  to 
the  lionors  he  has  already  acqnired."*  Congress,  notwith- 
standing  the  strong  prejudice  which  some  of  the  members 
entertained  against  ArnoUl,  yielded  to  these  repeatxxl 
requests  of  Washington,  and  he  was  ordered  to  the  nortii- 
ern  frontier. 

Pleased  with  such  an  endorsement,  which  soothed  his 
wounded  pride,  and  flattered  by  being  selected  for  the  post 
of  danger,  Arnold  instaTitly  set  forward,  declaring  he 
would  serve  under  anybody  or  anywh"?'^,  so  that  he  could 
serve  his  country,  and  that  he  would  tri!::.t  to  the  justict.  of 
his  claims  for  future  repara*^''  n.  IIow  much  Washington 
expected  from  him  appears  from  a  letter  to  General  Heath, 
dated  July  19,1777:  "  I  have  sent  General  Arnold  up  to 
join  Schuyler.  *  *  I  hoj)e  with  Arnoid's  assistance,  in 
wdiom  the  army,  and  militia  ])articularly,  have  great  confi- 
dence, matters  will  be  put  in  a  more  forward  train." " 

On  the  lOth  of  July,  1777,  W^ashington  writes  to  Schuy- 
ler from  "The  Clove:'' 

"  Upon  my  recjnisilion,  Gonoral  Arnold,  Wiiiving  for  tho  present  all  dis- 
pute about  rank,  left  I'hiladelphia,  and  arrived,  hero  last  evenin;,',  and 
this  day  proceeds  on  his  journey  to  join  you.  Althoufrh  ho  conceives 
himself,  if  his  promotion  had  been  regular,  as  superior  in  command  to 
General  St.  Clair,  yet  ho  generously,  upon  this  occasion,  lays  aside  his 
claim  and  will  create  no  dispute,  should  the  good  of  the  service  require 
him  to  act  in  concert.  I  need  not  enlarge  upon  the  well-known  activity, 
conduct  and  bravery  of  (Jeneral  Arnold.  The  proofs  ]m  has  given  of  all 
these  have  gained  the  confidence  of  the  public,  and  of  the  army— the 
Eastern  troops  in  particular."  ^ 

On  the  same  day  Washington,  to  encourage  the  officers 
of  the  militia,  announced  to  tlioin  that  their  favorite.  Gen- 
eral Arnold,  was  to  command  them.     J le addressed  a  letter 

"To  the  Brigadier  Generals  of  Militia  in  the  western  parts  of  Alassa- 
chusetts  and  Connecticut,"  saying:     "General  Arnold,    who  is  so  well 

1.    Spiirks"  Writings  of  Washington  Vol.  IV.  ii.  187. 
2     Mas.s.  His.  Vol.,  Vol.  IV,  p.  fi".    Heatli  I'lipprs. 
3.    Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  I'JS-y. 


I 


ml 


H 


148 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


1 


known  to  you  all,  goes  up  at  my  request  to  take  the  command  of  the 
militia  in  jiarticular,  and  I  have  no  doulit  but  you  will,  undi'r  his  conduct 
and  direction,  repel  an  pnomy  from  your  hordcrs  who  has  brou<,'ht  sav- 
apres  with  the  avowed  intent  of  adding''  murder  to  desolation."  ' 

Starting  Avitiuiut  delay  from  the  camp  of  Wasliington 
and  traveling  rapidly,  lie  arrived  in  July  at  Fort  Edward, 
and  joined  General  Schuyler.  The  ai'my  was  preparing  to 
move  a  few  miles  down  the  Hudson  and  take  a  position 
near  Moses  Creek.  The  forces  were  divided  into  two  divis- 
ions, one  of  which  was  put  under  the  command  of  Arnold. 
Schuyler  retreated  to  Stillwater,  the  British  taking  posses- 
sion of  Fort  Edward.  "While  here,  intelligence  reached 
Arnold  that  the  question  of  his  rank  had  been  brought  up 
in  Congress,  and  on  the  ayes  and  nays — then  for  the  first 
time  called  in  the  Continental  Congress — decided  against 
.him."  In  the  face  of  the  letters  of  "Washington  to  Con- 
gress in  reference  to  Arnold,  his  military  record,  and  his 
conduct  in  the  present  expedition,  this  action  seems  very 
strange  and  cruel.  Indignant,  mortified  and  wounded,  he 
asked  permission  to  resign,  but  by  the  persuasion  of  his 
old  friend.  General  Schuyler,  who  represented  to  him  the 
"absolute  necessitv  "  of  his  services  ai  so  critical  a  mo- 
ment,  he,  with  a  magnanimity  and  patriotism  rivaling  that 
of  Schuyler  himself,  withdrew  his  request.  He  was  yet,  by 
his  heroic  services  and  by  his  blood,  to  extort  from  Con- 
gress the  rank  which  in  the  judgment  of  Washington  was 
so  unjustly  withheld.'     Writing  to  Gates,  then  his  friend, 

1.  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  500. 

It  was  at  this  time,  while  Arnold  was  the  guest  of  Wa.'hiiigtoii,  and  being 
"  lirother  Masuni',"  lliey  visitid  together  a  Masonic  l.c^ge.  Tliey  neeived  a  liroth- 
erly  welcome,  and  each  signed  his  name  on  the  reoor<lsof  tlie  Lodge.  Tiie  record 
is  in  exihtence,  and  the  name  of  Washington  stands,  but  some  zealous  patriot,  in 
his  hatred  of  his  treason,  has  drawn  blaclc  lines  across  the  name  of  Arnold.  How 
deplorable  that  Arnold  should  have  caused  the  alienation  of  Washington— sepa- 
rating forever  these  "  Urotlurs  of  the  JUyntic  tie. ' 

2.  Journal  of  Congress,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  ;U9. 

3.  Wasliington  to  Lincoln,  advising  him  that  Arnold  had  been  restor  to  his 
rank,  says:  "  Arnold  is  restored  to  a  violated  riglU."~5parfc»'  Writings  qf  Washington, 
Vol.  V,  p.  217. 


IIIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


149 


Arnold  says,  alhulini^  to  the  action  of  Congress,  "  Xo  pub- 
lie  or  private  ijijury  or  insult  shall  ])revail  on  nie  to  iorsake 
tlie  cause  of  my  injured  and  oppressed  country  until  1  see 
]ieace  sind  liberty  restored  to  her,  or  nobly  die  in  the  at- 
tempt." • 

While  at  Stillwater.  Intel lifjjcnce  reached  Sclniyler  that 
St.  Leger,  accom])anied  by  Sir  John  Johnson  and  the  cele- 
brated Mohawk  chief,  Joseph  Jirant,  in  command  of  the 
Indians,  had  reached  and  closely  invested  Fort  Schuyler. 
Peter  Gansevoort,  a  brave,  active,  iirm  and  determined  otH- 
cer,  was  in  command.  When  he  heard  of  the  a]>proach  of 
St.  Leger  and  his  Indian  and  tory  allies,  he  a[)]K\aled  to 
Schuyler  for  aid,  setting  forth  the  dreadful  condition  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Tryon  County,  if  the  fort  should  be 
taken,  and  the  scattered  and  defenseless  settlers  given  up 
to  the' cruelties  ai-d  atrocities  of  the  Indians.  The  irarrison 
had  been  strengthened  by  Colonel  Mariuus  Willett,  a  brave 
and  skillful  otlicer,  from  the  city  of  IS^ew  York,  with  his 
regiment  and  provisions  and  military  stores. 

St.  Leger  had  arrived  on  the  3d  of  August,  and  sur. 
rounding  the  fort  with  Iiulians,  who,  by  their  yells  and  war 
whoops,  sought  to  intimidate  the  garrison,  demanded  a  sur- 
render, which  Ganesvoort  perem])torily  refused.  Meanwhile, 
General  Herkimer  having  heard  that  the  enemy  were 
approaching  across  Oneida  Lake  towards  the  valley,  called 
on  the  militia  of  Tryon  county  to  rally  to  the  rescue.  They 
responded  zealously,  and  from  the  scattered  hamlets  and 
settlements  gathered  in  and  met  at  Fort  Dayton,  on  the 
German  Flats  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mohawk,  and  on  the 
day  when  St.  Leger  invested  Fort  Schuyler,  Herkimer  was 
at  Oriskany  marching  to  its  relief. 

The  sister  of  the  JNIuhawk  chief  sent  word  to  him  that 

1.    Letter  from  Arnold  to  Gntes.  Ans.  'i,  1777.    ^faiiuscript  lettur  in  Gates'  puiicrs, 
Vol.  IX  J).  42,  in  the  New  York  Uistorical  .Society. 


150 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


llerkhner  was  approach! n<;,  and  tlii-s  skillful  warrior  on  con- 
sultation with  Sir  John  Johnson  and  St.  Leger,  deterniine<l 
to  go  out  and  meet  llerkinier,  and  in  accordance  with 
Indian  modes  of  war,  i)rcpared  an  ainl)ush  for  his  destruc- 
tion. 

Ilorkinier,  on  the  ;jth  of  August,  sent  messengers  appris- 
ing Ganesvoort  of  his  approach,  and  recpiesting  him  to 
signal  the  arrival  of  the  messengers  by  the  ra])id  discharge 
of  heavy  guns,  and  that  lie  sliould  also  make  a  sortie  from 
the  fort,  thus  co-operating  with  Herkimer,  who  would  ad- 
vance at  the  sound  of  the  guns,  and  light  his  way  to  the 
garrison. 

The  morning  of  the  Cth  came,  and  Herkimer  waited  im- 
patiently for  the  signal,  hut  no  guns  were  heard.  The  offi- 
cers of  Herkimer,  eager  to  go  forward,  ])ressed  him  to 
advance;  but  the  brave,  yet  cautious  old  soldier,  then  sixty- 
four  years  of  age,  still  waited  for  the  signal.  Some  of  his 
subordinates  still  urged  him,  and  a  quarrel  ensued,  in  whicli 
the  officers  called  him  a  "  tory  and  a  coward,"  and  at  length 
provoked  him  to  give  orders  for  the  advance.  Herkimer's 
messengers  had  been  delayed,  and  did  not  reach  the  fort 
until  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  of  the  nu)rning  of  the  0th. 
Most  of  the  Indians  and  tories  called  ''The  Cireens,"  had 
left  iheir  camp  to  intercept  Hei'kimer.  (Janesvoort  had 
noticed  the  quiet  in  St.  Leger's  camp,  and  the  arrival  of 
Herkimer's  messengers  ex]ilained  the  ominous  silence.  The 
Indians  and  their  allies  had  gone  to  waylay  and  ambush 
the  Americans.  Ganesvoort  ordered  Colonel  Willett  to 
sally  out  and  co-operate  with  Herkimer.  That  officer  (Her- 
kimer), at  about  mid-day,  marching  without  much  precau- 
tion through  the  defiles  of  the  forest,  was  suddenly  assailed 
on  every  side  by  Brant  and  his  followers.  The  Avar-whooj) 
of  the  Mohawks,  the  Senecas,  the  Onondagas,  and  of  all 
the  Six  Kations  except  the  Oneidas,  resounded  through  the 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


151 


forests,  and   tliere  now  occurred  one  of  tlic   most   bloody 
contiicts  of  the  war.     '' Tlie  tslaui^liter  was  dreadful." 

The  Indians  and  their  allies  liad  arranged  the  anihush 
with  ijreat  skill,  llidinij  in  the  forests,  thev  had  formed 
nearly  a  circle,  leaving  an  opening  for  llerlvimer  and  his 
troops  to  enter,  and  when,  unaware  of  danger,  all  luul 
passed  in  except  the  rear-guard,  which  Hed,  the  Iiidiai\s 
closed  the  gap,  shutting  the  traj),  and  then,  with  a  yell  that 
thrilled  the  hearts  of  the  assailed,  a  thousand  ritles  hlazeil 
upon  the  surprised  and  doomed  Americans.  It  seemed  at 
first  that  the  whole  force  would  he  annihilated,  hut  many 
of  these  men  were  accustomed  to  Indian  warfare.  Instantly 
seeking  cover  behind  trees,  those  who  survived  the  first 
onset  fought  with  des])erate  valor.  Herkimer,  although 
his  horse  Nvas  shot  dead  under  him,  and  his  leg  broken  just 
below  the  knee  by  a  musket  ball,  behaved  with  the  greatest 
heroism.  He  oi'dered  his  saddle  removed  from  his  dead 
horse,  and  ])laced  beneath  a  large  beech  tree,  and  seating 
liimself  U])on  the  saddle,  with  his  back  against  the  tree,  la- 
continued  to  issue  his  orders,  and  animate  his  men  to 
maintain  the  fight.  After  nearly  an  hour's  hard  fighting, 
and  great  slaughter  on  both  sides,  the  enemy  l)egau  to  closi- 
in  and  concentrate  ujion  the  Americans;  the  "'  Greens  "  and 
"  torv  rano-ers  "  chari^inij'  with  the  bayonet,  the  patri- 
ots  forming  themselves  into  circles  and  repulsing  the 
charges.  Thus  the  bloody  work  went  on,  with  a  fury  and 
rancour  which  rarely  was  stayed  for  mercy  or  <|uarter,  and 
was  checked  only  when  a  chip  of  thunder  silenced  tor  a 
nu>ment  the  crack  of  ritles  and  the  yells  and  shouts  of  the 
combatants.  This  was  followed  by  such  a  deluge  of  rain 
as  instantly  to  render  the  fire-arms  unserviceal)le.  i!oth 
])arties  paused  and  sought  shelter  under  the  trees.  During 
this  pause  the  leaders  were  busy  ])reparing  to  renew  the 
conflict  as  soon  as  the  rain  should  cease.     When   the  rain 


152 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Blackened  the  battle  rapjed  again  with  ni 'liminished  fury. 
In  the  midst  of  this  contliet,  guns  were  heard  from  the 
direction  of  Fort  Schuyler  ;  it  was  the  attack  of  Colonel 
Willctt  on  the  ]iartiall}' deserted  camp  of  Sir  flohn  Johnson. 
AVillett  caj)tured  a  liirL^e  (quantity  of  clothing,  stores,  cani]* 
e(|uii)au;es,  tive  JJritish  flags,  and  carried  them  into  the 
Fort  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  British  tlags  were 
immediately  run  u])  on  the  Hag-stalf  and  hung  under  the 
colors  of  the  United  States,  a  Hag  of  strii)os  of  red  and 
white,  lately  im])rovised  and  rudely  made  np  from  the  gar- 
ments of  the  sohliers  and  their  wives.  The  tiring  from  the 
direction  of  the  Fort  caused  the  Indians  to  lalter,  and  they 
soon  gave  way  and  lied  in  all  directions.  This  bloody 
battle,  known  as  the  ''iJattle  of  Oriskany,"  was,  in  i)ropor- 
tion  to  the  numbers  engaged,  one  of  the  most  destructive 
during  the  war.  It  was  not  a  decisive  victory  for  either 
])arty.  The  Americans  remained  in  i>ossession  of  the  tield, 
but  the  conflict  did  not  relieve  Fort  Schuyler  ;  the  British 
and  Indian  furces  returning  to  the  siege,  so  closely  invested 
it  that  no  reliable  information  ot  the  battle  reached  (ianse- 
voort.  The  gallant  Ih'rkimer  was  taken  to  his  home  near 
the  Little  Falls,  on  the  Mohawk,  and  died  a  few  days  after 
the  battle.  His  name  has  been  approjiriately  given  to  the 
village  and  county  of  his  residence,  where  his  memory  is 
still  cherished. 

St.  Leger  claimed  a  victory  at  Oriskany,  and  atcain  de- 


]nan 


ded 


a  surrender  of  the  fort,  declaring  to  Ganesvoort 
that  nothing  could  save  the  garrison  from  massacre  bv  his 
savage  allies  but  immediate  surrender.  Ganesvoort  indig- 
nantly refused,  and  determined  to  hold  out  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity, lie  dispatched  Colonel  Willctt,  with  Lieutenant 
Stockwell  as  guide^  to  General  Schuyler  for  relief.  At  night, 
i»i  the  midst  of  a  violent  storm,  they  left  the  fort;  crossing 
the  Mohawk  upon  a  log,  and  crawling  upon  their  hands  and 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS  TREASON. 


153 


knees,  tlicy  pjisscd  tlie  line  of  sentinels  undiscovered,  and 
after  many  ]iar(lshi|")S,  on  tlie  12th  of  Aiii^nst  reached  thi' 
liead  larters  of  (ieneral  Schuyler.'  Jle  had  ahvady  heard 
of  the  i)attle,  and  was  devising  means  for  the  succijr  of 
Gansevoort.  lie  fully  appreciated  tlie  suiferings  which 
would  follow  the  fall  of  Fort  Schuyler,  lie  knew  that  the 
tomahawk,  the  scalping  kiufo  and  the  midnight  torch, 
would  desolate,  scatter  and  desti'oy  the  ])atriot  settlements 
all  along  the  Yallev  of  the  ]\I<»liawk,  and  throuirh  Trvon 
county,  and  that  the  victorious  Indians  and  tories,  flushed 
with  success,  would  come  down  "like  an  avalanche"  upon 
Schenectady  and  Albany,  and  swell  the  approaching  army 
of  IJurgoyne. 

Arnold,  writing  to  Gates,  says  : 

"Those  infernal  savapcs,  painted  like  furies,  are  continually  liarrnssiiif,' 
and  scalpini?  our  people,  and  the  niisiTiihle,  drfi-iM  rlrss  inhiiliitiints. 
Wiiole  i'auiilies  of  tlie  hitter  have  been  inhumanly  hutchercil,  witliimt  dis- 
tinction of  a<,'e  or  sex;  and  some  (I  am  credibly  informed)  have  been 
roasted  alive  in  the  presence  of  the  polite  and  humane  Hritish  army. 
*  *  *  Tills  is  the  protection  many  poor  deluded  wretches  have  ex- 
perioncod  from  the  British  arms,  who  remained  quietly  in  their  homes, 
agreeably  to  Generiil  Burgoyne's  proclamation."  ' 

Scliuyler,  therefore,  from  motives  alike  of  compassion  for 
the  settlers  who  appealed  to  him  as  to  a  father  for  ]n'o- 
tection,  as  also  for  military  reasons,  determined  t(»  relieve 
the  beleaguered  garrison,  lie  called  a  council  of  war.  and 
proposed  to  the  otKcers  assembled,  to  send  a  detachment  up 
the  Mohawk.  ]Most  of  the  ofhcers,  except  Arnold,  oj)posed 
this  ])ro])osition,  on  the  ground  that  the  entire  army  was 
already  too  M'eak  to  resist  Burgovne. 

Schuyler  became  very  much  excited  by  their  o])position. 
"Walking  rapidly  up  and  down  tli^  council  room,  and 
smoking  vehemently,  he  overheard  some  one  say,  '■'■  he 
means  to  v^eaken  the  arm  ij!^^     He  liad  been  charged  with 

1.  I.ossing'sPict.  Hist,  of  the  Kevoliition,  Voi.  I,  p.  2')0. 

2.  From  Gates'  Papers,  Vol.  IX,  ji.  IJ,  in  Nfw  York  Historical  Society. 


'Ai\\ 


154 


LITE   OF    JiKNKDKT    AKXOLI). 


cowai'ilice,  and  even  with  treason,  by  liis  ]ii"('jii(li(',e(l  ene- 
mies. C'l•lll^llin<^  into  tVai,nn(!nts  with  his  t(!('th  tlie  clay 
jiipe  wliich  ho  was  sinokiii"^,  he  ])ause(l,  raised  his  liead, 
and  lodkini;  (»ver  tlie  •,^niU]>  of  olHeers,  said  with  dii^nity: 
"  CJentlenien,  I  shall  take  the  responsiidlity  upon  inyselt"; 
Fort  Stanwix  and  the;  Afohawk  Valley  shall  i)e  saved!! 
Where  is  tlie  iJri^^adier  who  will  coninianil  the  relief?  I 
shall  beat  uj)  for  volunteers  to-niorrow."  Arnold,  thou<^li  a 
Major-(ieneral,  and  second  in  ('(inunaiul,  indiujuant  that  his 
friend  sliould  be  so  wronijed,  instantly  volunteered.  Im- 
pulsive, ever  ready  for  deeils  of  dariiiij;,  knowini;-  liow  false 
and  cruel  were  the  imputations  cast  upon  Schuyler,  he  at 
(Mice  oll'ered  his  services,  and  they  were  most  gratefully  ac- 
ce[)ted.  On  the  next  morjung  the  drums  were  beatiui^ 
through  the  cani[)  for  vtdunteers,  and  it  was  announced  that 
Major-Cieneral  Arnold  had  offered  to  lead  them,  and  before 
noon  eight  luindred  men  had  volunteered  to  follow  him  to 
the  rescue  of  (Jansevoort.  Schuyler,  giving  Arnold  his  in- 
structions, says:  '•  It  gives  me  great  satisfaction  that  yon 
have  otfered  to  go  and  conduct  the  military  expedition  in 
Tryou  County."" ' 

jSlany  of  Arnold'o  vohmteers  were  of  the  brigade  under 
General  ]x'arned,  some  of  which  had  already  lieen  sent  by 
Schuyler  into  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk. 

Washington,  writing  to  Schuyler  August  21st,  says  : 
"If  the  militia  keep  up  their  spirits  *  '^  '•'■  they  will, 
with  the  reiniorcements  under  (ieneral  Arnold,  l)e  enabled 
to  raise  the  siege  of  Fort  Schuyler,  which  will  be  a  most 
important  matter  just  at  this  time."  " 

AVith  such  portion  of  his  troops  as  could  move  rajtidly, 
Arnold  ])Uf.hed  on  with  his  usual  energy  to  Fort  Dayton, 
on  the  German  Flats,  arriving  on  the  20th  of  August.     On 

1.    Losslng's  Schuyler,  Vol.  II,  p.  288. 

a.    Sparks'  VVritiiigs  of  Washington,  Vol.  V,  p.  37,  and  Carrlngtou's  Battles,  p.  325. 


I  1 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TIIEASOX. 


15«") 


the  21st  lie  called  a  couneil  of  war,  coiisirttiiiiif  of  I>ri:L^ii<lior- 
(ieiieral  Learned  and  tin;  six  (-oloiiels  who  eoinmanded  the 
rei^iiuents  whieh  coiistitiitetl  his  eoinmand.  Jly  a  I'riciidly 
Oneida  Indiiui,  corroborated  by  ('nlonel  Willett,  tin;  coun- 
cil was  informed  that  the  force  before  Fort  Schuyler  was 
not  less  than  seventeen  hundred  men,  besides  tories,  while 
the  force  under  Anujld  was  only  nine  hundreil  and  thirty- 
three.  Under  the  circumstances,  the  council  resolved  that 
it  would  be  "imprudent"  and  "too  hazardous"  to  attempt 
the  relief  of  Fort  JSciiuyier  until  reinfureements  had  ar- 
rived. ' 

1.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  prorcoiHiiifs  f)f  tlio  c nincil,  from  (iatus'  papers 
ill  iiiaiiuscript,  Vol,  IX,  p.  "n,  In  New  Yorlc  Historiciil  Sociuty  : 

"  At  II  cdUiK'il  of  wiir  liilil  lit  Tort  Itaytnii,  Gcrniftii  Flats,  August  Jlst,  1777,  present : 
Tlic  UoiioratiU'  Majdr-lii'iieral  Arnolil.  I'rt'sidi'iit ;  tlie  lloiiniatik' liriu'aclicr-iicneral 
l,eariie(l,  Col.  Bailey,  Col.  Mviiitcstoii,  Col.  \Ves.sjli,  Lt.  Col.  Van  Uyelc,  Lt.  Col. 
Itrooks,  I.t.  Col.  Willett,  menihers. 

"  Tlic  (iencral  iiifornicil  tlie  couiumI  that  i»revious  to  Ills  leavini?  Allmtiy,  (Icn- 
t-'cliuyler  had  .sent  a  belt  antl  nies>ai;e  to  the  Oiieiilas  to  meet  at  Alhaiiy,  anil  hml 
Intrusted  him  (Gen.  Arnold)  to  eiiKiifje  as  many  of  them  as  po.ssihlu  in  our  service, 
and  had  fiiriiisheil  him  with  some  [ireseiits  for  them,  in  (•oiiscMnience  of  which  lie 
had  dispatched  a  messenger  to  them,  reiiuestinn  they  would  meet  hiiiuit  tlie  GiTMiaii 
Flats  ;  as  yesterday  they  did  not  arrive,  ho  had  given  orders  for  the  army  to  march 
for  Fort  Schuyler  this  iiiorninjr.  since  whkh  a  de|iutatiun  from  tlie  Oiieidas  and 
'I'usearoras  had  arrived,  aeiiuaintiii;;  him  that  thecliicfof  Imth  triln's  witli  their 
families  would  be  hero  the  day  after  tomorrow,  reinicstiiiKii  iiieetiii«»wilh  us;  one 
of  the  Oneidas  who  had  lately  been  at  the  enemy's  encampment,  also  Infuniied  that 
all  the  Si.v  Nations,  exceiit  the  two  tribes  above  mentioned,  had  joined  the  enemy, 
the  whole  with  foreign  Indians  amounting  to  (iflecn  hundred,  by  tlie  eiiemy'.s 
account.  The  Oneida,  who  is  known  to  be  a  fast  Irieiiilof  ours,  says,  that  fmm  view- 
ing tlieir  encaminnent,  lie  is  fully  coiiviiiecd  tliiTe  is  upwards  of  one  thuu^aiid 
IiKlians.  acd  from  the  best  authority  their  oliier  forces  are  near  seven  huiidied, 
besides  some  tories  wlio  have  joined  them  since  their  arrival.  Col.  Willeit,  wlio 
lately  left  the  Fort,  being  present,  is  fully  of  opinion  the  above  aceouiii  is  nearly 
true. 

"The  General  then  ac(iuainted  the  Council  that  by  the  returns  delivereil  this 
morning,  our  whole  lorce,  rank  and  tile,  ellectives.  are  nine  huudied  and  thirty- 
tluee,  and  thirteen  artillery  men,  e.vclusive  of  a  lew  militia,  the  whole  not  exceed- 
ing one  hundred,  ou  whom  little  dciieudeiice  can  be  placed;  at  the  same  lime  re- 
(luests  tlie  opinion  of  tlie  Council  whellier  it  was  prudent  to  iiiarcli  with  the 
jircsent  force  and  endeavor  to  raise  the  siege  of  Fort  Schuyler,  or  to  remain  at  this 
jilace  until  a  reinforeenunt  can  be  solicited  from  below,  and  more  of  tlie  militia 
lurned  out  to  join  us,  and  until  the  Oneidas  had  determined  if  they  would  join  us, 
of  which  they  give  encouragement. 

"Jicsolccd,  Tliat  iu  the  opinion  of  this  Council,  our  force  is  not  equal  to  that  of  the 


loG 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Iligli-soiniding  proclamations  had  been  issued  early  in 
the  campaign  hy  both  Burgoyne  and  St,  Leger,  and  that  of 
St.  Lcgcr  had  been  signed  also  by  Sir  John  Johnson  and 
others,  hohling  out  inducements  to  the  inhabitants  to  join 
the  royal  cause,  and  containing  fearful  threats  against  those 
who  should  refuse. 

Learning  that  these  proclamations  had  had  some  influence 
upon  the  people,  on  his  arrival  at  the  German  Fhits,  Arnold 
issued  a  counter-proclamation,  modeled  somewhat  after 
those  which  had  been  issued  on  the  other  side.  The  sever- 
ity and  plainness  of  his  language  may  doubtless  be  attrib- 
nted  in  part  to  the  Indian  outrages,  of  which  the  murder 
of  poor  Jane  McCrea,  which  had  been  lately  perpetrated, 
M'as  an  instance,     lie  denounced  St,  liCijer's  force  as  "  a 

CD 

banditti  of  robbers,  murderers  and  traitors,  composed  of 
savages  of  America,  and  more  savage  Britons."  lie  oflers 
'' all  concerned  pardon,  provided  within  ten  days  they  lay 
down  their  arms,  sue  for  ])rotection,  and  swear  allegiance 
to  tlie  United  States  of  America;"  but  declares  if  they 
"persist  in  their  wicked  career,  determined  to  draw  uj)on 
themselves  the  just  vengeance  of  Heaven  and  of  this  cxas- 
]ierated  country,  they  must  expect  no  mercy  from  either,"' 

oiumy,  nnd  tlint  it  would  bo  imprudent  nnd  p\Uting  too  much  to  the  luiznrd  to 
lUtumiit  to  inarcli  to  tlic  relief  of  Fort  Schuyler,  until  the  army  is  reiiUnrecd ;  the 
('  >uncil  are  of  the  opiuiou  tlint  an  expre^^s  oiiiilit  innneiUiitely  to  be  s^cnt  to  Gen. 
tiates,  reqiie^ting  jie  will  iininediately  send  such  a  reinfon  enieiit  to  us  as  uiU 
enable  us  to  inarch  to  the  relief  of  the  Fort,  witli  a  jirobabilily  of  .succedini,',  and 
that  in  the  meantime  the  army  remain  at  the  German  Flats,  at  lea.st  until  an 
answer  can  be  had  from  Gen.  Gates,  and  that  all  possible  method  be  taken  toper- 
Buadc  the  militia  and  Indians  to  join  us. 

"B.  AR^iO'LT),  President." 

1.    The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  proclamation : 

••  By  the  Hon.  licnediet  -Vrnold,  Ksq..  Major  Gencr.il  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Army  of  the  United  States  of  America,  on  tin;  Mohawk  lUver. 

"  Whereas,  a  certain  Harry  St.  Le^fcr,  a  Hritisli  General  in  the  service  of  the 

George  of  Great  Britain,  at  the  head  of  a  biiiulitii  nf  Kobbcr.s,  Murderers  and  Trai- 
tors, composed  of  Savages  of  America  and  more  savatre  Britons,  among  whom  is  a 
noted  Sir  Jolin  Johnson,  John  Butler  and  Daniel  Clans,  have  lately  appeared  on 
the  frontiers  of  this  Slate,  and  have  threatened  ruin  and  distruetioa  to  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  United  States. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


157 


Meainvliile,  some  of  the  fj'arrison  ut  Fort  Sclniyler,  hear- 
ing iiuthiiii^  from  Colonel  Willett,  and  seeing  no  signs  of 
relief,  beiran  to  consider  whether  it  wouUl  not  be  wiser  to 
save  themselves  from  threatened  massacre  by  surrender; 
but  their  determirkcd  commander  resolved  that  if  no  succor 
reached  him,  when  liis  provisions  were  exhausted  he  would 
march  out  some  dark  night  with  his  troops,  and  cut  his  way 
through  his  besiegers,  or  die  in  the  attempt.  iJut  this  des- 
])erate  exjiedient  was  rendered  unnecessary  by  the  skill  and 
strategy  of  Arnohl.  Jle  had  been  detained  a  short  time  at 
Fort  Dayton  for  supplies,  baggage  and  ammunition,  to  over 
take  him,  and  for  the  "  militia,  who  were  now  coming  in  in 
great  numbers."*  lie  now  sent  word  to  Gansevoort  that 
he  was  coming.  On  the  22nd,  having  heard  that  St.  Le- 
ger's  approaches  had  reached  very  near  the  fort,  iKjtwith- 
standing  the  &u]>posed  superiority  in  numbers  on  the  part 
of  St,  Leger,  and  notwithstanding  the  resolutions  of  the 
council  of  war,  that  it  would  be  imjn-udent  to  attempt  to 
relieve  Fort  Schuyler  until  reinforcements  should  arrive,  ho 
determined  "  to  ]uish  forward  and  hazard  a  battle  rather 
than  see  the  garrison  fall  a  sacrifice.""  On  the  21st  of 
August  he  wrote  to  Oeneral  Gates:  "I  leave  this  place 
(the  German  Flats)  this  morning  with  1200  Continental 

"They  have  also,  by  artifice  and  misrepresentation,  induced  many  of  tlio  iRnorniit 
and  unwary  sul)jc(ts  of  tlioso  states  to  forfeit  tlieir  allef,'iani'c  to  the  same,  and 
join  them  in  tlieir  atrocious  crimes  and  partiesof  treachery  and  parricide,  nuinun- 
ity  to  these  poor  deludi'd  wretches,  who  are  hast;  n'  i;;  Ijlindfold  to  <le.struetiuii, 
induces  me  to  offer  them  and  all  others  concerned,  whether  saviiLfcs,  Oermans,  Amer- 
icans or  Biitons,  pardon,  provided  they  do  wi;hin  ten  day.s  from  the  date  hereof, 
come  and  Iny  down  their  arms,  tue  for  protev.'tion,  and  swear  allegiance  to  tho 
I'liited  States  of  America,  lint  if.  still  blind  to  their  own  safety,  they  obstinately 
l>cr-ist  in  their  wickeil  courses,  lUtcrniinel  to  draw  on  themselves  tho  just  ven- 
geance of  Heaven,  and  of  lliis  exaspeiated  country,  they  must  e.xpect  no  mercy 
fromeither. 

"  n.  AitxoT.r),  >taior Ceneral. 

'Ciiven  under  my  hand  at  Uend  Qui'-'  --.German  Flats,  '.idth  of  Aiii;ust,  1777." 

—Gales'  Pupcrs,  N,  Y.  His.  Suckly. 

1.    Letter  from  Arnfild  to  Tiansevoort,  Aug, 'J2, 177/, 

li.    Stone's  Campaign  of  liurgoyne,  p.  212, 


158 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


m 


troops  and  a  liaiulful  of  militia,  for  Fort  Sclinyler,  still  be- 
sieged by  a  imnibcr  equal  to  ours.  You  will  hear  of  my 
being  victorious  or  no  more.  '•'  '-  As  soon  as  the  safety 
of  this  part  of  tlie  country  will  ])crmit  I  will  fly  to  your 
assistance."  On  the  23d  lie  wrote  again  to  Gates,  inclosing 
copy  of  the  ])roceedings  of  the  council  of  war,  and  say- 
ing that  he  had  determined  to  hazard  a  battle  rather  than 
suiter  the  garrison  to  fall  a  sacrifice,  and  tluit  he  was 
marching  for  Fort  Schuyler."  ' 

On  the  mornint;  of  the  23d  he  was  makiufi:  a  for^^d 
inarch  up  the  ]VIowhawk  with  a  part  of  his  force,  and 
had  proceeded  about  ten  miles  from  }iis  cain]i  wlien  he  met 
an  express  froin  Gansevoort  announcing  that  the  siege  had 

1.    The  following  is  tlio  toxt  of  his  letter: 

"MowiiAWK  Kivii]'.,  M  M I i.Ks  Above  Fort  Dayton,   1 
.MiK't  Xi,  nil,  i,  O'clock  r.  M.       J 
Dear  Gkneral: 

"  I  wrote  you  the  21st  Inst,  from  the  German  Flntts.that  from  the  best  intelligenee 
1  could  procure  of  the  Kiieniy's  strciiKth,  it  was  much  superior  to  Ours;  (it  same  time 
Inclosed  you  Coppy  of  the  resolutions  of  a  f'ouncil  of  Warr,  find  requested  you  to 
send  me  a  reinforcement  of  One  thousand  Li^lu  Troops.  As  the  Knemy  hud  made 
their  approai'hes  within  Two  hniidn>(l  yunls  of  the  Tort,  I  was  determined  at  all 
events  to  hazard  a  lint  tie  ratlier  tliau^'ilU'er  ihe  Garrison  to  fall  asacrifisc;  this  morn- 
ing I  marched  from  the  (i.  Klatts  for  this  place  :  tlie  e.\cessivo  had  roads  and  necessary 
precautions  in  Marching  thro'  a  thick  wood  retarded  us  so  much  that  wo  have  but 
this  moment  reached  this  place,  where  1  have  met  an  K.\press  with  the  Inclosed 
Letter  from  (  olo.  (iansevoorl,  aci|uaints  me  the  Knemy  had  yestcrilay  retired  from 
Fort  Schuyler  with  ^reat  precipilation;  I  am  at  a  loss  to  .IiuIk*!  of  their  real  in- 
t  nlions;  whether  they  have  returned  home  or  retired  with  a  view  of  en;,'aging 
us  on  the  road;  lam  inilii.eil  to  tlie  firmer  from  the  acco't  of  the  Deserters, 
and  from  their  leaving  their  Tents  and  considerable  Uaggage,  which  our  people 
liave  secured. 

"I  shall  immediately  Detail  Abt.  Nine  Imndreil  Men  and  make  a  forced  March  to 
the  fort  in  hopes  of  coming  up  with  their  rear,  and  seeming  their  Cannon  and 
heavy  Haggage. 

"My  Artille:y,  Tents,  »tc.,  Ac.,  I  shall  leave  here  ;  the  Datteaus  with  Provisions  fol- 
low me.  As  soon  as  the  security  of  the  l'.>st  wdl  rermit,  I  will  return  with  as 
many  Men  as  can  be  spared.  As  I  come  down  in  liatteaus,  slinll  be  able  to  nuike 
great  dispatch. 

"  I  have  sent  an  Order  for  the  Light  Troops  if  yon  have  sent  any,  to  return  to  you 

immediately,  and  the  Militia  to  go  home. 

"I  am,  Dear  General,  Your  AlTectionatc,  "ObeJ.,  Ilble.  Srvt., 

"U.  Arnold. 
"Houble.  Mnjor-Geueral  Gates." 

—Gates   Papers,   Vol.  IX,  p.  01,  N.  Y.  JliU.  Societ; 


HIS    TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


lo'J 


been  raised.  Gaiisevoort  did  not  at  first  understand  it,  but 
Arnold  griinly  smiled  at  tlie  success  of  a  Rune  De  Ouerrc, 
which  be  had  ])racticed.  It  was  this:  His  troops  liad 
captured  a  !^[()hawk  Dutchman  named  Hon  Yost  Schuyler 
or  Cuvler,  whose  residence  was  near  the  Little  Falls.  In 
compan}'  with  Lieutenant  Butler  and  some  others,  ho  bad 
been  arrested  within  the  American  lines  at  a  jmblic  meet- 
ing at  which  I'utler,  making  a  speech,  was  endeavoring 
to  persuade  the  ])eo])le  to  join  the  Koyal  cause.  The  ])arties 
so  taken  were  tried  l)y  court-martial  as  spies,  and  both 
Ibitl«!r  and  IIonYost  convicted  and  sentenced  to  death. 
IIonYost  is  said  to  have  been  a  singular  combination  of 
cunning  and  shrewlness  in  some  things,  with  a  want  of 
sense  ay>proaching  idiocy  in  others ;  so  that  the  Indians  on  the 
Mohawk  regarded  him  as  one  stricken  by  the  (Jreat  Spirit. 
They  regarded  liim  with  the  mysterious  respect  and  wonder 
mingled  with  awe,  with  which  the  red  man  regards  the 
insane  and  the  idiot.  Those  thus  stricken  by  the  Crteat 
Spirit  they  always  treat  with  a  certain  respect.  Living 
much  with  the  Indians,  IIonY(»st  hid  joined  the  tories. 
His  aged  mother  and  his  brother  hearing  that  he 
was  a  prisoner  and  had  been  sentenced  to  be  hung, 
hastened  to  Arnold  at  Fort  Dayton,  and  implored  him 
to  s])are  his  life.  It  is  a  touching  trait  of  a  mother's  love 
that  her  devotion  to  her  child,  so  unhappy  as  to  be  phys- 
ically a  crip]ile,  or  mentally  defective,  is  greater  tlian  that, 
for  her  more  fortunate  children  not  thus  atHicted.  The 
niotlier  of  poor  Ilon^'ost  was  not  an  exception,  and  the 
touching  pathos  and  ehxjuence  with   which  she    plead    for 

the  life  of  her  atHicted  son,  are  told  to  this  day  in  the  legends 

1      \..,,,J, 


of  the  Mohawk  A'allev, 


Arnold  for  a  time  affected   to  be 


firm  airainst  all  her  nleadiuirs,  butfinallv  said  that  he  would 


1 
life 


'6"' 


on  on"  condition 


liti 


Ki 


iowin<r  how 


pjiare  the  prisoner's 

IIonYost  was  regarded  by  uie   Indians,  Arnold  proposed 

I.    stone's  Campaign  of  Burgoyne,  p.  'J13. 


IGO 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   AKNOLD, 


tliat  he  should  hasten  to  the  camp  of  St.  Lcgcr,  and  alarm 
the  besiegers  by  the  report  of  Arnold's  near  and  rapid 
approach  with  overwhelming  numbers,  and  thus  raise 
the  siege.  If  lIonYost  accomplished  this,  his  life 
should  be  spared.  lie  and  his  mother  gladly  accepted 
the  proposal,  and  she  offered  herself  as  a  hostage  for  his 
good  faith.  This  Arnold  declined,  but  insisted  that  liis 
brother  Nicholas  shotdd  be  retained  as  such  hostage,  know- 
iuij  that  while  he  held  him  he  had  all  the  security  which 
t'e  influence  of  both  mother  and  brother  could  give  in  favor 
of  tlie  good  faith  of  the  prisoner.  This  was  assented  to, 
and  Nicholas  went  into  the  prison  in  place  of  his  brother, 
pledging  his  life  for  lion  Yost's  fidelity. 

An  arrangement  was  also  made  with  an  Oneida  Iiulian 
to  aid  in  the  experiment.  Before  they  started  several  bul- 
lets were  shot  through  the  coat  of  the  Dutchman,  to  give 
cidor  and  probability  to  the  story  that,  a  prisoner,  he  had 
escaped  at  the  hazard  of  his  life. 

Thus  prepared,  he  and  the  Oneida  started,  it  being  ar- 
ranged that  the  Indian,  as  he  approached  the  camp  of  St. 
Leger,  was  to  separate  from  his  companion  and  go  in  alone, 
corroborating  the  Dutchman  in  his  story  of  the  vast  num- 
bers who  were  ap])roaching,  and  thus  aid  in  creating  a 
panic. 

The  Indians  in  St.  Leger's  camp  were  already  impatient 
to  get  away;  they  had  suffered  severely  in  the  battle  of 
Oriskany;  they  had  been  disappointed  in  the  success  and 
])lunder  they  had  anticipated;  and  rumors  of  Arnold's  ap- 
proach had  already  reached  them.  It  is  said  they  had  met 
and  were  in  council  to  consult  the  Manitou  as  to  their 
future  movements,  when  at  the  very  moment  IIonYost, 
the  mysterious  and  Manitou-stricken  one,  was  suddenly 
brought  before  the  council,  lie  was  cunning,  autl  liis  life 
and  that  of  his  brother,  as  he  believed,  depended  on  his 
success. 


\ 


Ills    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON'. 


IGl 


I 


Exliibiting  liis  garments  riddled  with  bullets,  lie  declared 
lie  had  barely  escaped  death  from  the  ap])roachiiig  foe,  and 
had  hastened  on  to  tell  his  red  brethren  of  the  coming 
enemy  and  of  their  danger.  The  chief  in(|uire(l  the  num- 
ber of  Arnold's  troops  and  he  pointed  to  the  leaves  of  the 
trees,  lie  \vas  taken  to  the  tent  of  St.  Legor,  and  repeated 
his  story,  cunningly  mixing  truth  and  fulselujod  ;  he  gave 
St.  Leger  an  account  of  his  cajjture  with  Lieutenant  Uutler, 
of  which  that  officer  had  already  heard,  then  of  his  trial 
and  condemnation.  lie  sai<l  on  his  way  to  the  gallows, 
knowing  he  could  but  die  in  the  attempt,  he  had  made  his 
escape  ;  a  whole  volley  had  been  fired  at  him,  but  fortu- 
nately the  balls  had  ]iassed  through  his  clothes  without 
wouiidin<r  him.  I'v  this  time  the  Oneida  arrived  in  the 
camp  bringing  a  belt,  and  told  the  Indians  that  the  Ameri- 
cans were  approaching  in  great  numbers  under  their  war- 
chief  Arnold;  that  they  did  not  wish  to  tight  the  Indians, 
but  were  determined  to  destroy  the  l>ritish  troojjs,  tories, 
rangers  and  Greens. 

These  stories  had  the  desired  effect;  tiie  Indians  jirepared 
to  leave.  St.  Leger  tried  in  vain  to  induce  them  to  remain- 
The  tales  started  by  lion  Yost,  corroborated  by  the  Oneida, 
Hew  throughout  the  camp,  a  })anic  arose,  and  the  •vhole 
body  of  the  Indians  Hed.  The  tories  and  troops  followed, 
and  a  rnmor  reaching  them  that  ArnoM  was  just  behind 
them,  they  threw  away  their  kna])sacks,  arms,  and  whatever 
would  encumber  their  tiight.  IVrhaps  Curtis  was  some- 
what extravagant  in  saying  that  "Arnold,  volunteering'  to 
relieve  Fort  Stanwix,  ha<l  by  the  mere  terror  of  his  coming 
blown  St.  Leger  away."  '  Yet  it  is  clear  that  there  was  at 
that  time  no  name  among  the  American  officers  whose  ap- 
])roach  wouUl  be  more  likely  to  produce  such  a  result  than 
his.     Hon  Yost,  after  going  with  the  flying  Indians  a  short 


I 


Ccnlennial  Address  of  Geo.  W.  Cur  is  at  Berni^'  Heights,  Oct.  7, 1877. 
11 


TT 


1G2 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Mr 


distance,  fell  behind  and  returned  to  Fort  Schuyler,  and 
i^avc  Gansevoort  tlie  first  information  he  had  that  Arnold 
was  a])proachin<^  hy  forced  inarches.' 

Then  lie  hastened  back  to  Arnold,  his  brother  Nicholas 
was  set  at  liberty,  and  the  old  mother  returned  lioine  joy- 
fully with  both  her  sons. 

Arnold  pushed  on  to  Fort  Schuyler,  hoj)inf^  to  overtake 
and  ca])ture  the  fugitives.  lie  was  received  with  a  salute 
of  artillery,  and  the  cheers  of  the  brave  garrison.  Ganse- 
voort had  fallowed  the  retreating  St.  Leger,  but  so  precipi- 
tate h.ad  been  his  fliglit,  that  he  could  not  be  overtaken,  but 
his  tents,  artillery,  provisions,  and  camp  equipage  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Thus  ended  the  siege  of  Fort 
Schuyler,  and  thus,  tlirough  the  efforts  of  Herkimer,  "\Vil- 
lett,  Gansevoort  and  Arnold,  the  right  arm  of  Biirgoyne's 
expedition,  from  which  so  much  had  been  expected,  was 
lopped  off,  and  the  British  commander's  reliance  for  aid 
and  co-operation  from  St.  Leger  and  his  powerful  Indian  and 
tory  allies,  in  all  the  ^loliawk  Valley  and  west  to  Lake 
Ontario,  Avas  destroyed.  It  was  a  hard  blow  for  Burgoyne, 
and  contributed  largely  to  his  final  overthrow.  Arnold 
returned  in  triumph  to  the  main  army  on  the  Hudson, 
receiving  as  lie  passed,  the  thanks  of  the  settlers,  whose 
homes  and  families  his  success  had  rendered  safe. 

1.    "  FouT  ScHUVLKR,  '221111  August,  1777. 
"  Dear  Sir: 

"This  mnrninp;  at  11  (Vclnck  T  be-'fiii  a  Heavy  Ciinonadc  nprm  our  Knoinirs' 
WorVs,\vluoii  was  inuiu'iiiately  rcturiioil  liy  a  NniiilcrofSliells  and  Cannon.  About 
:!  O'clock  several  Deserters  cuine  in,  wlio  iuforiniMl  nie  that  (ioueral  St.  Loijer  wit.i 
liis  Army  was  retreating  willi  the  iifniost  precipitation  ;  soon  after  wliich  I  sent  out 
a  party  of  Ahont  Sixty  Men  to  enter  their  camii.s,  who  soon  returned  and  conflrmed 
the  above  Accounts. 

■'About  7  O'clock  this  Evening,  Hon  Yost  Schuj'lcr  Arrived  liere  and  informed 
me  that  (ieneral  Arnold,  with  Two  Tliousand   Men,  were  on  their  March  fortius 
I'ost,  in  t'onseiiuence  of  'wliich  I  send  you  tliis  inforniation. 
"  I  am,  Dr.  Sir,  yours,  ktc., 

"  Teteu  Gansevoort,  Colo. 
"  To  tlic  non'blc  General  Arnold, 
or  Ollicer  Conimaiidiiig 
the  Army  on  their  March  to  Fort  Schuyler. 
"  pr.  favour  of) 


i-  M; 


Serj't  My  res.' 


—Gates'  Papers,  Vul.  IX.  j).  75,  in  K.  Y.  His.  See. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


FIRST  BATTLE  NEAR  SARATOGA. 


"  But  for  Arnold  that  eventful  day,  Burgoj-nc  would  doubtless  have  marched  into 
Albany  at  the  autumnal  equinox,  a  victor."— Lo«»t«£r. 

Battle  OF  19th  OP  September— Arnold  Leads  the  Troops  to  Victory— Error 
OF  Bancroft— Testisioky  of  Cols.  Varick  and  Livingston,  Gbnerals  Schuy- 
ler, Buugoyne,  AND  others— Verdict  OF  Irving,  Lossing,  and  others. 

The  decisive  campaiajn  of  the  American  Kevolution 
approached  its  crisis.  The  battles  of  Saratoga,  resulting 
in  Bnrgoyne's  surrender,  have  been  selected  b}^  a  distin- 
guished English  historian '  as  the  conflict  in  American  his- 
tory to  be  ranked  among  the  fifteen  great  battles  of  the 
world. 

Arnold  returned  from  his  successful  expedition  up  the 
Mohawk  in  high  spirits.  lie  had  been  absent  twenty  days, 
and  had  succeeded  without  loss,  in  raising  the  siege  of 
Fort  Schuyler,  dispersing  tho  Indians  and  tories,  and  driv- 
in*;  St.  Leger  back  to  the  Lakes. 

Now  he  arrived  in  the  camp  of  the  main  army,  sanguine 
of  success,  full  of  zeal,  and  impatient  for  the  approaching 
conflict.  His  sagacious  military  eye  perceived  that  J3ur- 
goyne,  the  brave  and  chivalric  soldier,  and  the  courtly  gen- 
tleman, with  his  small  but  magnificently  appointed  army, 
was  doomed  to  defeat  and  capture. 

Eager  for  military  glory,  still  young  and  full  of  liope,  and 


1.    Creasy. 


t 


(103) 


1G4 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    AIINOLD. 


yet  proudly  and  hittorly  rcojillinnf  tlio  refusal  of  Couf^ress 
to  gr'e  hiiu  the  raidc  which  Waslungtou  thought  he  had  so 
well  cariied,  he  was  deterniinod  to  connect  his  name  with 
the  approachiufi^  conflict.  JMany  an  Knglisli  sailor  and 
soldier  besides  Nelson,  has  gone  into  battle  with  the  senti- 
ment, "Victory,  or  AVestuiinster  Abl)ey." 

Arnold's  desperate  valor  and  recklejis  personal  exposure 
in  both  the  battles  which  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne,  indicate  that  with  him  it  was  a  fixed  determination 
to  extort  from  Congress  his  proper  rank,  or  die  on  the  tield. 

Two  events  had  occurred  while  he  had  l)ecn  absent  on  the 
Mohawk,  both  of  great  importance  to  his  country,  and  one 
influencing  largely,  ]>crliaps  fatally,  his  own  future,  the  de- 
feat and  capture  of  Colonel  Bauin,  near  Jjennington,  and 
the  change  in  the  command  of  the  army  from  Schuyler  to 
Gates. 

Burgoyne,  suffering  for  provisions  himself,  learned  that 
there  had  been  collected  at  Ijcnnington  a  depot  of  beef, 
corn  and  other  needed  supplies  intended  for  the  American 
array.  Bennington  was  about  twenty  miles  from  the  Hud- 
son, and  was  guarded  bv  militia  onlr,  and  Burgovne,  in 
need  of  these  very  supplies,  hoped  to  siirju'ise  Bennington 
and  capture  the  stores.  He  ordered  Colonel  Baum  with 
about  five  hundred  men,  to  march  to  Bennington  for  that 
purpose,  and  soon  after  sent  i^t.-Colonel  Breyman  to  Bat- 
ten-kill to  be  within  supporting  distance,  as  he  supposed, 
of  Baum. 

The  approach  of  the  British  was  discovered  by  Colonel 
Stark  at  Beimington,  and  he  immediately  called  on  Colonel 
AVarner  at  Manchester,  to  hastei  to  his  aid.  At  the  same 
time  he  appealed  to  the  militia  and  yeomanry  of  the  sur- 
rounding countrv  to  rally  to  his  assistance,  and  ho  soon 
found  hiniself  at  the  head  of  a  for  ?c  considerably  outnum- 
bering that  of  Baum,  .and  he  determined  to  attack. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


10," 


On  tlie  sixteenth  of  Aii<fust,  after  a  severe  hattle,  in 
wliicli  Stark  and  his  men  hehaved  with  ijreat  coura<:e,  Col- 
olonel  Baum  and  his  whole  force  were  compelled  to  sur- 
render. 

Brejman  came  up  while  the  Americans  were  collecting 
the  spoils  of  victory,  and  for  a  moment  threatened  to  turn 
the  tide  of  success  airainst  them ;  hut  Colonel  Warner,  arriv- 
ing at  the  critical  moment,  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field, 
and  pursued  tliem  over  hills  and  through  forests,  until 
iiight  ])ut  an  end  to  the  conflict,  capturing  guns  and  haggage. 
At  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth  of  August, 
]>urgoyne  was  awakened  by  the  tidings  that  I'aum  was 
killed,  and  that  his  command  were  all  ])risoners,  and  that 
Breymau  was  struggling  to  make  good  his  retreat  to  tlie 
main  army. 

While  Arnold  had  heen  absent,  Schuyler  occupied  the 
islands  at  the  fords  of  the  Mohaw'k,  where  it  empties  into 
the  Hudson,  lie  had  been  making  every  effort  in  his  power 
to  gather  together  the  means  of  successfully  rej>elling  the 
menacing  enemy.  Many  of  the  members  of  Congress 
from  New  England  entertained  strong  prejudice  against 
Schuyler,  and  were  very  slow  to  recognize  his  noble  charac- 
ter and  sterling  virtues. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  August  Gates  arrived  iu  camp,  and 
by  command  of  Congress  (Washington  declining  to  make 
the  ungrateful  selection),  superseded  Schuyler  in  command 
of  the  northern  army.  Xothing  could  be  more  magnani- 
mous and  patriotic  than  the  conduct  of  Schuyler  on  the  exe- 
cution of  this  cruel  order.  lie  had  ])re]>ared  tlie  means  of 
victory,  and  now  when  the  hour  of  triuin])h  apju'oached, 
an  intriguer,  who,  Bancroft  declares,  "had  no  fitness  for 
command,  and  wanted  ])ersonal  courage," '  was  placed  at 
the  head  of  this  army  which  Schuyler  had  contributed  so 

1.    Bancroft,  Vol.  IX,  p.  407. 


IGG 


LIFE  OP  BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


larf^ely  to  raise,  and  ho  was  now  aLont  to  gather  tlic  laurels 
which  Schuylor  was  prepared  to  win;  but  such  was  the 
patriotism  and  generosity  of  Scluiyler,  that  he  manifested 
no  resentment,  and  did  everything  in  his  power  to  contrib- 
ute to  the  success  of  his  nnwo»'tliy  rival. 

It  will  be  rememl)ered  tiiai,  iii  the  campaign  of  1770. 
(rates  and  Arnold  hud  been  very  intimate,  but  the  careful 
reader  of  the  correspondence  between  them,  and  between 
kSchuyler  and  Arnold,  will  observe  that  while  tliero  is 
familiarity  between  Gates  and  Arnold,  there  is  in  the 
letters  of  Arnold  to  Schuyler  a  tone  of  respect  not  to  be 
discerned  in  the  letters  to  Gates.  Still  there  was  as  yet  no 
coldness  on  the  part  of  Arnold  towards  Gates.  So  far  from 
it,  lie  says,  writing  to  Gates  from  the  German  Flats,  "as 
soon  as  the  safety  of  this  ])art  of  the  country  will  permit,  1 
will  fly  to  your  assigtance." ' 

Arnold  was  now  with  the  main  body,  ready  to  assist  and 
co-operate  with  Gates  to  the  utmost.  The  left  wing  of  the 
army  was  at  Loudon's  Ferry,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Mo- 
hawk, five  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Hudson.  Two 
briirades  and  ^ACoriran's  famed  riflemen  were  there.  Soon 
after  Arnold's  arrival  in  camp  the  entire  army  was  concen- 
trated on  and  near  Bomis'  Heights,  Arnold  commanding 
the  left  wing,  composed  of  the  same  troops  which  had  been 
at  Loudon's  Ferry. 

The  British  were  approaching,  and  Gates  was  about  to 
throw  his  army  across  Burgoyne's  path,  and  intercept  his 
march  towards  Albany.  It  was  deemed  important  to  select 
with  care  the  best  position  to  check  such  advance  .and  re- 
ceive the  attack.  Arnold  therefore,  says  Irving,  "  recon- 
noitered  the  neighborhood  in  company  with  Kosciusko,  the 
Polish  engineer,  in  quest  of  a  good  camping  ground,  and 

1.    living's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  IOC. 


Ills    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


107 


at  lcii<5th  fixed  upon  a  ridijc  of  hills  called  IVmiiIs'  Heights, 
wjiich  Kosciusko  jtrocceded  to  fortify."' 

Duriiii;  tiio  few  (hiys  which  ])reced('d  the  battle  of  the 
uiuetecuth  of  8c])teuil>('r,  Ai'uold  continually  auiioyed  the 
enemy  by  skinni.shing  and  attacking  the  ]>arties  engaged 
ill  rej)airing  roads  and  bridges.''  A  (ierniati  otticer  says: 
"We  had  to  do  the  enemy  the  honor  of  sending  ont  wliolo 
i-egiments  to  protect  onr  workmen." 

"It  was  Ariujld,"  says  Irving,  "  wlio  provoked  this 
honor.  At  the  head  of  fifteen  hundriMl  nu'u  he  skirmished 
with  the  superior  force  sent  out  against  him."'* 

1.  Irvine's  \V(i>him,'t(.ii,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  2:!0. 

■J.  I,(is.siiit;'s  Scliiiylcr,  Vol.  II,  |>.  'i-ll. 

■i.  IrviiiK'.s  WiisliiiiKton.  V(il.  Ill,  p.  2-12. 

4.  Mauu^c'iipt  ktler  of  \' ol.  Vurick  to  Sohuylor,  Sept.  15, 1777,  as  foUow.s; 

"IlKAD  IK'TS,  SlIT.    l.Jtll,   1777. 

"  Dk.vr  Genehai,;— Yesterday  AftiTuoon  1  ha  I  ilie  pleasure  <ilatteii<liiit,'  ileueral 
AnioM  on  a  Kecoiinoitering  party,  to  pick  out  GhmmhI  tor  a  New  t  amp.  We  took 
our  Deijarturo  in  (onipnny  with  Mr.  I.ansiiif;.  Col.  Chris.  Yutes,  and  three  lislit 
Horse,  nil  along  the  heights  on  tlie  West  of  the  lUver,  u|)  Hill  and  down  Uale,  till 
we  came  to  Sword's  House,  where  we  lull  in  with  Colo.  Mornaii's  I'arty  of  Hilleineu 
and  Infantry,  and  the  Genl's  Aids,  and  took  the  road  alon;^  the  river  till  we 
reached  the  House  on  this  side  IJliu  1  Morris— here  tlie  troops  were  hailed,  and 
IJvinsston,  wih  Lansing  and  two  horse,  advanced  till  they  should  discover  some 
iporsoii  or  movement  of  the  enemy  ;  ft(,'reablo  to  orders  they  ad\unced  till  near 
I'olo.  Van  Vechten.nnil  were  followed  by  the  Genl'-s  Aids,  aii<I  there  discovered  a 
party  supposed  to  be  the  advanced  picket  of  the  enemy,  r'  mt  I'tO,  on  the  Hill 
North  of  Van  Vecbten.  I  went  Iii  j)ursuit  of  the  Youuk' Gentlemen  as  far  as 
Ihe  Bridge  between  the  Hill  and  the  liridRe  at  Colo.  Viui  \'echten's,  where  1  met 
them  on  their  return.  1  fo\iiid  the  Bridge  in  the  same  I'light  in  which  our  Army 
left  it  on  their  retreat  from  ^^arato^a. 

"  The  enemy  discovered  our  parly,  and  we  had  a  fair  prospect  of  them  from  the 
liill  beyond  Morris  on  the  banks  of  the  Dove-Gat— Ihay  appeared  to  be  puradiu;,' 
without  the  beat  of  drums. 

"  On  u,"r  return  we  were  in  hopes  of  the  GenVs  ordering  a  party  to  attack  tlicm, 
but  it  be'. ig  near  Evening,  the  Gen'l  tho't  more  prudent  to  return.  When  we  re- 
turned a^  we  hearci  our  t:vening  Ciun,  but  none  from  the  Kncniy. 

"  Upon  the  whole  it  is  supposed  that  lUirgoyiie  will  advance  this  way  and  attack 
\\s.  It  may  be  tliat  this  manouvre  of  his  is  to  cover  the  Retreat  fif  his  Cannon  and 
baggage;  however  it  is  hardly  probable.  On  my  Return  I  am  honored  with  your 
jiolite  favor  of  the  11th,  lor  which  I  am  much  obliged  to  you.  I  suppose  by  this 
time  you  have  reed  two  of  my  letters  of  the  i;ith,  giving  you  an  ace(junt  of  Colo. 
Wilkinson's  K.xpedition. 

"  I  most  sang>iinely  expected  to  have  been  at  Saratoga  by  this  day,  but  am  much 
di.sappointed,  and  am  now  convinced  that  no  Carria^eb  can  pass  the  Road  in  less 


^1 


-i 


1G8 


LIFE   OF   BENKDICT   ARNOLD. 


Mi)  was  <^oiiorally  successful,  aud  took  many  prisoners, 
and  thus  encourn^ed  and  animated  the  troops. 

At  this  time  tiiere  began  to  apj)ear  a  coohiess  on  tlie  part 
of  (leneral  (Jates  towanls  (ieneral  Arnold,  Gates  liavinuf 
succeeded  in  Ids  intrigue  aLjiiinst  Schuyler,  was  ah'cadv 
drciimin<r  of  sui»erscdinic  AVasIiini^ton  himself.'  Washiiiir. 
t(»n\s  kindness  to  Arnold,  his  etforts  with  (\>n_i;'ress  iur  his 
promotion,  and  for  the  restoration  of  his  ])roper  rank,  were 
well  known;  and  (iates  naturally  and  ri<^ht]y  assuimed  that 
.Vriiohl  could  not  he  induced  t(»  become  a  partisan  of  his 
again.-t  the  Commander-in-Chief.*  ]>esides,  Arnold  was 
known  to  be  a  friend  iA'  Schuyler,  Colonel  Henry  IJrock- 
holst  I^ivinn^stoii,  who  had  be(Mi  on  the  staff,  and  Colonel 
Varick,  the  Secristary  of  (ieneral  Schuyler,  when  their  chief 
left  for  Albany  remained  in  camp,  and  the  former  was  now 
acting  as  aid  to  General  Arnold.' 

tlmn  two  or  3  days.  As  soon  as  I  am  happy  EiioiiRh  to  pot  there,  I  shall  cheerfully 
('i)inply  with  your  roqiicsts,  iind  prevent  niiy  injury  lieiuK  ilmie  to  your  tiuilfrnes 
and  fences  as  fur  as  my  Influence  with  the  Genl.  and  other  Gentlemen  will  extend. 
I  hftve  no  doubt  of  (ien.  Gates  eomplyins  witli  the  reipieht. 

"Gen.  Arnold  is  this  day  ^one  out  with  a  largo  party.  I  don't  know  liis  inten- 
tions ;  prohalily  to  try  the  cast  side  of  the  river,  as  lie  seemed  very  desirous  to  have 
a  prospect  of  the  enemies'  camp  I'roin  the  hinh  hill  on  tliat  side.  If  he  proceeds  on 
this  side,  he  may  lul.  in  with  some  of  the  l':iiemy. 

"  We  found  no  heiKht  yesterday  lart,'e  enouyh  for  our  camp. 

"Mr.  I.unsinj;and  Livingston  join  in  their  respects  to  you.     Be  good  cMou','h  to 

make  them  to  Mrs.  Scliuyler  and  Miss  I'eggy.    I  am  much  obliged  to  them  for  their 

good  wi.shes. 

"  I  am,  with  every  respectful, 

"faitliful  sentiment, 
"  Your  most  obliged, 

"  IluiiAUD  Varick. 
"  To  the  lion.  M.  Genl., 

"SclIlYI.F.R." 

The  fchuyler  pa)  ers.  This  and  other  letter*  quoted  from  the  Pchnyler  manu- 
scripts are  now,  for  the  lirst  time,  printed  in  full.  Tliese  Schuyler  papers  are  of 
great  historic  value. 

1.  "lie  (Gates)  aspired  to  thechief  command  of  the  continental  armies,  indulged 
in  the  egotistical  idea  that  he  knew  better  how  to  move  them  tlian  did  the  Virgin- 
iai\  General,  and  that  the  New  England  delegates  would  .support  him  in  such  pre- 
posterous claims.'  —Lossinn'a  ^clmyle'-.   Vol.  II.  p.  1S2. 

•i.  The  scheme  to  supersede  Washington  by  Gates  "originated  with  three  men," 
Conway,  Gates  and  Mifllin,  the  latter  one  of  the  junior  lirigadiers,  who  had  been 
jiromoted  over  Arnold.— .SVi«(A'.«  ]\'riti)ifis  a/  Wiifliiit'jtoii,  Vul.  ]',  pp.'.i'J)  and  Ibi. 

o.    Lossing's  Schuyler,  Vol.  II,  p.  liH. 


ins    PATRIOTISM    AND    IMS    TKIIASOX. 


im 


"^  ,rick  vas  nUo  much  of  the  timo  with  Aniohl,  and 
these  yoiintcoHiccr.s,  known  to  he  in  the  confi(h'iK!o  of  Sclmy- 
ler,  excited  tlie  jealousy  ot'CJates. 

Liviiii^'ston  writes  to  ScIimvUt  on  th(>  twcntv-tliinl  of 
Sejiteinljer,  after  the  (jnarrel  hetween  (Jatesand  Arnold  had 
heeonie  open  and  notoritnis,  "the  reason  for  the  present  dis- 
agreement hetween  two  old  cronien,  iti  sii/ij)/i/t/n'{i:  Arnold 
/'.y  }/out\f/'u7ul."  '■ 

A^arick,  writinnj  to  Schuyler  on  the  22nd  of  Septeniher- 
says:  "  He  (ArnoM)  has  the  full   confidence  of  the  troo])S 
and  they  Mould  tii::ht  gallantly  under  him."" 

Having  stated  these  circumstanc-es,  1  now  proceed  to  de- 
tail the  events  of  the  nineteenth  of  September: 

The  army  was  at  I'emis'  Heights.  Thecamj),  which  had 
heen,  as  before  stated,  carefully  selected  by  Arnold,  and 
fortified  by  Kosciusko,  was  situated  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Hudson,  and  extending  from  the  margin  of  the  stream 
across  a  narrow  flat,  and  then  across  a  ridge  of  liills  called 
l>emis'  Heights,  and  thence  on  to  otluM"  hills  still  farther 
west.  Kosciusko  had  caused  breastworks  to  be  thrown  u|t 
in  front  three-quarters  of  a  mile  long,  with  a  strong  bat- 
tery at  each  end  and  one  in  the  center;  on  the  right  across 
the  low  ground  near  the  river,  an  entrenchment  was  thrown 
up,  and  on  the  baid<  was  a  strong  battery  protecting  a  Hoaf- 
imr  bridire  wliich  crossed  the  river.  On  the  niorniiii;:  oi' 
the  eighteenth,  ]>urgoyne  moved  down  within  two  miles  of 
the  American  camp,  and  jirepared  for  battle.  He  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  brilliant  array  of  distinguished  officers — Ma- 
jor-General Phili])s,  (ienerals  Fraser,  Hamilton  and  I'ow- 
ell,  and  the  German  General,  Jiiedesel,  the  Karl  of  J3alcar- 
ras,  Colonel  Breyman,  Alajor  Ackland — all  oflieers  of  great 
merit  and  distinction. 

1.  LoRsinf?'s  Sclniyler,  Vol.  II,  p.  051. 

2.  Sclniyler  papers.— MSS. 


170 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


f  h^ 


Gates'  lieacl-qu.arters  were  some  distance  soutli  of  the  line 
of  breastworks,  and  behind  Beniis'  llei<^hts;  ArnoUrs  were 
north  and  west  of  Gates'  quarters,  and  west  of  the  line  of 
breastworks. 

Tlie  mornini^  of  the  nineteenth  tlie  sun  rose  bri^dit,  and 
the  air  was  clear  and  bracin^^;  a  hoar  frost  whitoned  the 
"•round.  The  h(jstile  armies  now  confrontinii:  each  other, 
were  so  near  that  the  morninij^  ii^nn  and  drum-beat  of  each 
could  be  distinctly  heard  by  the  other.  Each  army  extended 
from  the  bank  of  the  ri/er  westward  over  the  hills.  The 
rii^ht  winii^  of  the  Americans,  under  the  iihmediate  com- 
mand of  Gates,  and  composed  of  Glover's,  aSixou's  and 
I*atterson's  brigades,  occu})ied  the  hills  near  the  river  and 
the  flats  on  its  margin. 

The  left,  under  the  command  of  Arnold,  consisting  of 
Poor's  brigade,  made  up  of  Cilleys',  Scammel's  and  Hales' 
New  Hampshire  troops,  and  Van  Courtland's  and  James 
Livingston's  New  York  regime. its,  the  Connecticut  militia, 
]\[organ's  riflemen  and  Dearborn's  infantry.'  These  were 
posted  on  the  hills,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  west  of  the 
river.  Tiie  center  was  composed  of  Learned's  brigade,  of 
Massachusetts,  and  New  York  troops. 

The  left  wing  of  the  British,  with  the  very  powerful  train 
of  artillery,  rested  on  the  flats  near  the  river;  the  center 
and  riglit  wing  composed  largely  of  German  troops,  ex- 
tended west  on  the  hills,  and  were  commanded  by  iJurgyone 
in  person,  and  with  them  were  Fraserand  Breyman  with  the 
lig',t  inlV.ntry.  The  front  and  flanks  were  covered  by  the 
Indians,  Canadians  and  Loyalists. 

rhilij)s  and  Riedesel  were  to  marcli  down  tlio  road  on  tlie 
ba-dc  of  the  river.  The  Canadians  and  Indians  were 
to  attack  the  outposts  of  the  Americans,  while  Bunroyne 
and  Fraser,  with  the  grenadiers  and  light  infantry,  were  to 

1.    Irving's  Washingloii,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  211. 


HIS   TATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASOX. 


171 


inarcli  throu^li  the  forests  behind  the  hills,  and  assault  the 
left  flinik  and  rear  of  the  Americans.  As  most  of  the 
irround  was  covered  with  a  dense  forest,  the  movements  were 
to  be  regulated  by  signal-guns.  AVhen  IJurgyone  and  Fraser 
had  effected  a  junction,  three  heavy  guns  were  to  be  iired 
as  a  signal  for  an  attack  on  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  Ameri- 
can lett,  and  for  a  general  assault  along  the  whole  line. 
American  lookouts  were  stationed  in  the  to])S  of  trees  on 
high  ground,  and  the  unusual  activity  in  the  Uritish  cam]) 
was  soon  reported  to  the  American  otHcers.  The  glitter  of 
moving  arms,  the  bright  scarlet  uniforms,  and  the  moving 
of  flags,  indicating  that  the  enemy  was  forming  his  line  of 
battle,  were  observeU  and  reported  at  the  headquarters  of 
Arnold  and  Gates,  and  at  ten  A.  M.  it  was  announced  that 
the  British  were  coming,  moving  down  in  three  divisions. 
Philips  and  liiedesel  with  the  artillery,  were  marching  down 
the  river  road  ;  Burgoyne  with  the  center  followed  the 
stream  now  forming  AVilbur's  Basin,  south  and  west  ;  aiul 
Fraser  and  Breyman  started  on  their  circuitous  route  to 
reach  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  American  left. 

Arnold,  watchful  and  esiger  for  the  flght,  to  whom  these 
movements  were  known,  Mas  anxious  to  go  out  and  meet 
the  enemy.  "Gates,"  says  Lossing,  "gave  no  orders  and 
evinced  no  disposition  to  flght."  '  llis  officers  were  im])a- 
tient.  Arnold  "urged,  begged  and  entreated  "  ''  permission 
to  lead  his  troop3  to  *\o  attack,  and  at  length  he  obtained 
[jermission  to  send  ]\[organ's  riflemen  and  ].)earborn'ri  in- 
fantry out  to  meet  the  enemy. 

They  soon  met  the  Canadians  and  Indians  and  dispersed 
them.  Following  tlu'ir  advantage  with  too  much  eagerness, 
they  became  scattered,  and  a  sti'ong  reinforcement  of  the 
enemy  coming  up,  they  were  obliged  to  fall  back,  and  the 

1.  Losslng's  Schuyler,  Vol.  II,  '   341. 

2.  Colonel  Varick.    Letter  quoted  hereafter.  \ 


■h 


)- 


172 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


;(. 


brave  partisan,  ^Morc^an,  for  a  moment  tlionglit  his  renowned 
corps  was  "mined;"  Lnt  sounding  loudly  his  shrill  wood- 
man's whistle — known  to  them  as  the  "turkey  call" — the 
riflemen  gathered  around  tlieir  chief,  and  the  regiments  of 
Scammel  and  Cillcy  coming  up,  the  fight  was  kept  up  with 
equal  fury.  ]\[cantime  Burgoync  and  Fraser  were  moving 
vapidly  to  tall  on  the  front  and  flank  of  the  American  left. 
The  center  under  Burgoyne  reached  a  clearing  called  Free- 
man's farm,  Mhile  Fraser,  farther  west,  marched  rapidly 
south,  hoping  to  turn  tlie  A'nerican  left.  Arnold  at  the 
same  time  attempted  to  cut  Fraser  off'  from  his  connection 
with  Burgoyne.  Arnold  and  Fraser  met  ahout  sixty  yards 
west  of  Freeman's  cottage,'  and  a  bloody  conflict  ensued. 
"Arnold  led  the  van  of  '  it^  men  and  fell  upon  the  foe  witli 
the  fury  and  impetuosity  .  a  tiger.  By  voice  and  action 
he  encouraged  his  troojis."" 

lie  was  met  by  overwhelming  numbers.  Fi-aser  rapidly 
turned  and  attacked  Arnohrs  riL''lit.  Arnold  rallied  his 
troops,  and  being  reinforced,  and  now  leading  the  regiments 
of  Cilley  and  Scammel,  and  Dcarboni,  Hale  and  Brooks, 
attempted  to  break  through  the  British  lines  and  separate 
Fraser  from  the  center.  "  lie  made  a  ]'a])id  counter-march, 
and  his  movements  being  masked  by  the  wood,  suddenly 
attempted  to  turn  Fraser's  left.''  Hero  ho  threw  himself 
upon  it  with  a  boldness  and  impetuosity  which  threatened 
to  cut  the  wings  of  the  army  asunder.  ^  But  the  grenadiers 
and  Breyman's  riflemen  hastened  to  its  su])])ort,  and  Gen- 
eral Philips,  hurrying  tlirough  the  thick  woods  and  over 
the  hills,  came  hastening  up  from  the  extreme  left,  and  just 
at  the  moment  when  victorv  seemed  to  be  crowning  the 
etforts  of  the  Americans. 

1.  Lossing's  Field  Book,  Vol.  I,  p.  ."2. 
'J.  l.ossiiiH's  I'iold  iiook,  Vol.  I,  j,-.  .Vi. 
3.    living's  Washington,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  244, 


niS   PATRI0TI8.AI    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


17;J 


Xow  Burgoyne,  Frascr  and  Pliilips  M-cre  Icadiiii^j  and 
encouraging  their  forces,  and  Sergeant  Lanilt,  a  Jiritish 
writer,  says:  "For  four  hours  a  constant  Ithizo  of  fire  was 
kept  up,  aud  both  armies  seemed  to  he  determined  on  deatli 
or  victory."'  Arnold  had  brought  his  whole  division  into 
action  and  called  for  re-enforcements,  but  they  were  refused. 
Lossing  says:  "Had  he  (Arnold)  been  seconded  by  liis 
commander,  and  strengthened  by  re-enforcements  ■•■'  ■•• 
he  would  doubtless  have  secured  a  complete  victory."  lie 
adds:  "  But  for  Arnohl,  on  that  eventful  day,  P)urgoyne 
would  doubtless  have  marched  into  Albany  at  the  autum- 
nal equinox,  a  victor."  ''  Night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict, 
which  the  British  themselves  declare  to  have  been  the  most 
obstinate  and  hardly  fought  of  any  ever  experienced  in 
America. 

Arnold  rode  a  grey  horse  during  the  conilict,  and  near 
night  ("evening,"  as  Wilkitison  says),  went  himself  to 
the  camp  of  Gates  for  re- enforcements.  AVilkinson  states 
the  incident  as  follows:* 

"  Gates  and  Arnold  were  together  in  front  of  the  cam]>. 
Major  Lewis  came  in  from  the  scene  of  action,  and 
announced  that  its  progress  was  undecisive.  Arnold  imme- 
diately exclaimed:  ']jy  G — d!  I  will  soon  put  an  end  to  it ' 
— and  clapping  spurs  to  liis  horse  galloped  off  at  full  speed. 
I  was  instantly  dispatched  by  (jates  after  Arnold,  overtook 
and  ordered  him  back,  lest  he  might  do  some  'rash  act.'" 

Arnold  having  blackened  by  his  treason  the  fame  hith- 
erto 60  brilliant  as  a  soldier,  some  historians*  and  writers 
have  denied  that  he  was  on  the  biittle-tield  of  Saratoga 
at  all! 


It  {?■ 


1.  Lrssin<;'s  Life  of  ScliuylcT,  Vol.  II,  p.  :'.I0. 

2.  I.os'inj,''!'  I.il'e  nf  Schuyler,  Vol.  11,  p.  348. 
:t.  Wilkinson's  Moniork's,  Vol.  I,  p.  -15. 

4.  Notubly  Uancroft. 


'  .  :  (  . 


174 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Let  us  Inquire  wlio  led  tlic  Auierican  forces  on  tliis  event- 
ful (lay;  or  was  the  battle  foui^lit  -without  any  leader? 

It  is  not  claimed  by  any  one  that  Gates  was  on  the  field, 
or  tliat  he  had  anytliinfr  to  do  with  the  battle,  except  to 
yield  to  Arnold's  importunity  and  permit  him  to  send 
Morijan  and  Dearborn  to  the  front  ;  when  he  saw  Soammers 
battulioii  marching  out,  "lie  asked  where  the  troops  were 
going,  and  on  being  told,  he  declared  no  more  troops  should 
go — he  M'ould  not  suffer  the  camp  to  be  exposed."  * 

Who  then  did  lead  ?  This  battle  was  full  of  skillful 
maneuvers  and  evolutions,  beginning  at  mid-day  and  last- 
ing till  night  ;  and  IJurgoyne  and  Phillips,  and  Fraser  and 
liiedesel,  skillful  and  able  men,  were  all  on  the  Held  skill- 
fully guiding  and  directing  the  I'ritish  troops.  Was  the 
battle  on  the  American  side  fought  without  a  leader?  Was 
there  no  guiding  s])irit?  Such  an  improbable  statement 
•would  never  have  apjieared  on  the  ])ages  of  any  respectable 
M'riter,  if  the  man  who  ably  led  and  valiantly  fought  that 
battle  had  not  afterwards  betrayed  his  country. 

But  let  us  be  just  to  this  man,  even  though  his  name  be 
Benedict  Arnold. 

A  brilliant  and  fascinating,  but  not  always  accurate, 
historian,  has  said  :     "Arnold  was  not  on  the  field."' 

If  so,  this  was  the  first  time  he  was  ever  near  a  battle- 
field and  not  at  the  head  of  his  troops.  lie  commanded  the 
left  wing,  and  this  was  the  object  of  Burgoyne's  skillfully 
arranged  attack  ;  his  troops  fought  gallantly,  maneuvered 
skillfully,  met  and  foiled  by  skill  and  valor  every  attempt 
of  Burgoyne  for  five  long  hours;  and  we  are  told  they  did  so 
Mithout  their  leader,  without  any  leader  ?  The  statement 
is  utterly  incredible,  and  can  be  demonstrated  to  be  untrue. 

This  is  Mr.  Bancroft's  language: 

1.  Colonel  Varlck,  Lossing's  Schaylcr,  Vol.  IT,  p.  349. 

2.  Bancroft's  History  of  United  States,  Vol.  IX,  p  4H. 


■  Wi  • 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


175 


"On  the  r)riti8h  side  three  ]\riij(ii'-rienerals  eniiie  on  tlie 
field;  on  tlie  American  side  not  one,  nor  a  Jh-i^adier  till 
near  its  close;"  and  in  a  note  he  adds:  "Arnold  was  not  on 
the  field.  So  "witnesses  Wilkinson,  whom  Marshall  knew 
personally  and  believed.  So  said  the  informer  of  Gordon.'* ' 
Let  ns  examine  the  evidence:  AVilkinson  was  the  Adjn- 
tant-General  of  (Jates.  He  was  then  a  vonn":  man  of 
twenty,  an  enemy  of  Arnold,  pert,  officious  and  vain. 
Gates'  hea(l(iuarters  were  behind  ]Jemis'  Heights,  and  from 
these  quarters  the  battle-i^round  conld  not  be  seen.^  More 
than  thirty  years  (1816)  after  the  battle,  "Wilkinson  pub- 
lished his  memoirs,  and  while  the  just  indijj^nation  ai^^ainst 
Arnold  fc)r  his  treason  was  fresh,  and  when  evervthinir  to 
his  j)r('ju<lice  and  nothino'  to  his  credit,  found  its  way  into 
print,  makes  this  statement: 

"  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  vot  ((  sin(/l,'  r/inural  affircr  iriis  on  the 
afield  of  holfle  on  the  niiicfcrnf/i  a/  Si pf(  itilnr.  until  tlie  oveniiif^,  when 
(jieneial  Learned  was  ordereil  out.  About  the  same  time  (ieneral  Gates 
and  Arnold  were  in  front  of  the  centerof  the  camj),  listening?  to  the  peal 
of  small  arms,  when  Colonel  M.  Lewis  ret\n'ni'd  from  the  fi<'ld  and 
reported  thi;  indecisive  progress  of  the  action,  at  v-hich  Arnold  ex- 
claimed: '  ]>v  0— d,  1  will  soon  put  an  enil  to  it,"  and  claiipin<,'  s]nn-s  to 
his  horse,  fralloped  otf  at  lull  sjieed.  Coloni'l  Lewis  observed  to  dates, 
'  You  had  better  order  him  back  ;  he  may.  by  some  rash  act.  do  mischief.' 
1  was  instantly  dispatched,  overtook,  and  remanded  .\rnold  to  camp."^ 

This  was  at  "eveninnf.*'     It  was  the  first  time  AVilkinson 

speaks  of  seein<:^  Arnold  that  day.     Anicld's   intelliirence 

of  lUu'goy lie's  approach  was  received  at  mid-day.     (.'olonel 

Yarick  says,  "  It  is  evident  to  me  he  (Gates)  never  intended 

to  fi<i;ht  Ihirijovne  till  Arnold  urijed,  l)eij:i!;('d  and  entreatetl 

liim  to  do  it.''^     ANhere  had  Arnold  been  tVom  noon  until 


1.  liancmft'sHistnry  of  rnitcvl  states,  \'ol.IX.  p.  im.  But  Marshall  himself  snys: 
"ArnoM  witli  iiiiio  ('niiiinciit.il  M'','iniLMits  ami  Mmiian's  corps  wis  cniiipli'tely  tii- 
ga^cil  witli  llio  wiiolo  riglit  wins  of  llic  llrilisli  army.''— i^e  4/  U'ua/ii/ij/tu/i,  ]ul. 
J  I,  p.  2-0. 

2.  Stone's  Biirsnyne's  Campaign,  p.  TI. 

3.  Williiiison's Memoirs,  Vol.  I,  pp. 24o-G. 

4.  Lussiiig's  Life  of  Scliuykr,  Vol.  II,  p.  319. 


170 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


"  eveniiii^ "  during  the  four  or  five  hours  in  which  his  whole 
division  had  been  fightiiiy;? 

At  "evening"  Arnold  appears  "mounted"  in  front  of 
tlie  center  of  the  canij),  finds  (iates,  and  the  moment  a  re- 
jtort  is  hrought  in  that  tlie  action  is  "indecisive"  ho  ex- 
chiiins:  "J»y  G — d,  I  will  soon  ]»ut  an  end  to  it,"  and 
dajipiui^  sjiiirs  to  his  horse,  i^allops  off  at  full  s[)eed,  and  is 
oid}^  re^;trained  by  the  ])eremptory  order  of  (Jutes.  This 
conduct  certainly  does  not  indicate  a  man  wl'  had  been  for 
four  hours  away  from  the  field  of  battle  on  which  his  own 
soldiers  w^cre  hotly  enga<^ed.  It  M-as  a  strange  spectacle  for 
the  chief  to  arrest  the  second  in  command  when  spurring 
to  the  front  under  circumstances  above  stated.  It  may  well 
be  that  Wilkinson  did  not  see  Arnold  on  the  field  of  battle 
during  the  day.  The  battle-ground  was  uneven,  and  most 
of  it  covered  with  forest,  so  that  no  general  view  could  be 
liad  of  the  field. 

Neither  Arnold's  head-quarters,  nor  any  considerable  ]>or- 
tion  of  the  battle-field  were  visible  from  Gates'  head-quar- 
ters.' AV^ilkinson's  pro]icr  position  when  not  executing  an 
order,  was  near  his  chief,  and  Gates,  somewhat  rudely 
reminds  his  stafi'-officer  of  this;  as  "Wilkinson  says,  "about 
half  past  twelve  o'clock,  a  report  of  snniU  arms  announced 
Morgan's  corps  to  be  engaged  in  front  of  our  left.  Tlie 
General  and  his  suite  were  examining  the  battery,  which 
had  been  commenced  on  our  left.  I  asked  leave  to  repair 
to  the  scene  of  action,  but  was  refused,  with  this  observa- 
tion:" "It  is  your  duty,  sir,  to  await  orders."  If  he  had 
repaired  to  the  scene  of  action,  he  would  doubtless  liave 
seen  Arnold  in  the  fight  as  usual.  Ihit  not  being  permitted 
to  go  to  the  scene  of  .iction,  he  did  not,  and  could  not  see 
Arnold  until  the  incident  at  "evening,"  alrea<ly  described. 

JJut  let  us  examine  and  see  what  is  implied  by  the  corres- 

1.    liurgdviie  s  rampaisn,  by  Clmiles  Neil.s,)ii,  p.  IIJ. 


HIS    rATKIOTlSM    AND    HIS   TIfKASOX. 


17 


poiulcnce  of  tlicse  officers  at  tliat  time.  On  the  twcnty- 
isecoiid  of  Se})teiiil)i'r,  AnioM  lijiviiii;^  lieard  that  (Jates,  in 
liis  report  of  tlie  eiiujaiivmetit  transmitted  tn  Con-xress,  liad 
made  no  mention  of  Ins  division,  nor  of  liiinsrlt',  in<lii:nant 
at  tliis  treatment,  writes  to  Gate>,  saving':  '*  On  tlie  nine- 
teenth, wlieu  advice  was  received  that  the  enemy  was 
approacliini;,  I  took  tlie  lilierty  to  <>-ivo  it  as  my  ()j)inion 
that  ice  ouglit  to  march  ont  and  attaci\  them.  Yun  desired 
me  to  send  Colonel  ^rori^au  and  the  l-i<;]it  Tnfaiitry,  and 
Hupportthem  j  I  ohoji'd  you)'  onI<  ik,  and  Itefore  the  action 
was  over,  /found  it  necessary  to  send  ont  the  whole  of  my 
division  to  support  the  attack.  Xo  other  troo])s  were  euijii^ed 
that  day  except  Colonel's  Marshall's  rei^iment,"  '  These 
facts,  not  denied  by  Gates,  are  entirely  inconsistent  with  the 
statement  of  Wilkinson,  and  show  that  .\rnold  obtained 
leave  to  "march  our.  and  attack,  and  that  to  that  end  he 
liad  obtained  len'"  '  jend  CVilonel  ]\roriran  and  the  Li^iht 
Infantry,  and  t^  ^  .ic  did  "support  them;"  and  that  before 
the  action  was  over,  he  found  it  necessary  to  '' su|>[)urt '' 
them  by  "the  who!(!  of  my  (his)  division."' 

These  statements  of  Arnold,  made  three  days  after  the 
1)attle,  in  a  letter  complaining  of  (Jates'  injustice  to  his 
t)  s,  tf  ti'ue,  estab]i>h  tlie  fact  that  the  battle  of  the 
n  eteenth  of  September  was  fouiiht  by  Arnold's  divisi(»n, 
under  his  leadership.  Is  it  likely  tiiat  Arnold,  in  the  camp 
of  CJatcs,  and  in  the  ])resence  of  the  whole  army,  woidd 
make  statements  which,  if  untrue,  would  be  instantlv 
known  to  be  false,  and  stamju'd  as  such  ^  And  if  he  had 
been  guilty  of  such  tolly,  wouM  imt  (iates — then  .Vrnold's 
bitter  enemy — and  his  A.d jutaiit-(ieneraK  haxc  then  aiid 
there  contradicted  the  stateis'.eut^  lint  the  statenu'iit  was 
not  contradicted  by  (iates;  it  was  not  u;-til  more  than  thirtv 
vears  had  i>;one  bv,  that  "Wilkinson   savs  that  nut  a  sinirlt! 

1.    Arnold  to  Ga'.cs,  WiUdnson's  Mi'Uioirs,  Vnl.  I.  \\.  2:>\. 


178 


LTFi:   OF   BEXEDICT   ATINOLD. 


I   i 


m\\ 


m 


ufciieral  ofliecr  was  on  tlie  field.  As  criticisms  of  Wilkiii- 
son's  statcinents,  I*}'  various  liistoriaiin  and  writers,  will  Lc 
(juoted  hereafter,  1  forbear  further  ooinineiits,  and  will  pro- 
ceed to  present  the  clear  and  ]iositive  testimony  of  impar- 
tial eye-witnesses,  showincj  that  ^Mr.  Bancroft's  allei;ation 
— based  on  AV^ilkinson's — that  Arnold  was  not  on  the  field, 
is  erroneous.  "Wilkinson  '  a  a  bitter  enemy  of  Arnold, 
and  a  ])artizan  of  Gates,  but  there  were  in  the  camp  at  th(.' 
time  of  the  battle,  two  ijcntlemen  of  hi^di  ]>ersonal  charac- 
ter, and  every  w"y  entitled  to  full  credence — Colonel  llich- 
anl  Yariclv,'  wiio  had  been  the  secretary,  and  Colonel 
J.ivin<::ston,  who  had  been  the  aid  ot  General  Schuyler. 
Colonel  Livini2;ston  was  now  the  aid  of  General  Arnold, 
and  of  course,  as  such,  knew  perfectly  -woll  what  Arnold 
was  doinij^  on  the  day  of  the  battle.  Three  days  thereafter, 
and  when  Arnold,  indignant  at  Gates'  treatment  of  his 
division  and  of  himself,  threatened  to  leave,  Livingston,  in 
a  letter  to  Schuyler  says  : 

"  When  tlio  goncnil  otficn-s  and  soldiers  hoard  of  it,  they  wore  preatly 
alannod.  *  *  *  'J'lioy  had  lost  conHdcnco  in  Gates,  and  had  th(; 
hip:hos;  opinion  of  Arnold.*  To  induct'  hiin  (Arnold)  to  stay.  General 
I'oor  {)roiK)sed  an  address  from  tin-  yi'ni'ral  oilietn's  and  Colonels  of  his 
division,  leturninf,'  him  thanks  for  his  services,  and  partkuJarJij  for 
hifi  rondiicf  diirliii/  the  late  action,  and  re(inestinf,'  him  to  stay.  ^  'J'he 
address  was  franad  and  consented  to  by  I'oor's  otlicers.  Those  of 
General  Learned  refused.  They  acquiesce  I  in  the  propriety  of  the 
measure,  but  were  afraid  "t  "rivintr  umbra^'"'  to  General  Gab's,"  ^ — a  paltry 
excuse  for  officers  of  rank  to  alle;j:e  for  not  doing'  their  duty.  Finally  a 
letter  was  written  to  Arnold,  and  sijrned  by  all  the  general  officers, 
exeeptintr  Lincoln,  urtjing  him  to  remain,  for  another  battle  seemed 
inunineiit.^ 

1.    Afforwnrds  on  tho  staff  of  Washins^ton,  Mayor  of  t'lO  city  of  Now  York,   and 
Altonicv  (ioncriil  of  tlie  State. 
•2.    Quoted  Irom  Schuyler  papers,  in  l.ossing's  Life  of  Scliuyler,  Vol.  II,  p.  301. 
:'..    Sdiuylcr  Papers. 

4.    Livingston  to  Schuyler,  September  2nd. 
0.    Lossing's  Life  of  Seliuylcr,  Vol.  II,  p.  3Jl. 


JStet 


HIS    rATIUOTISM    AND    HIS    THKASOX. 


171) 


Col.  Vivricl',  writini;  from  Arnold's  camp  to  Schuyler  i>ii 
tlie  22ik1,  throe  ihiys  after  the  battle,  says: 

"Gates  seeniod  to  bo  piqued  tliat  Arnold's  division  had  tho  honor  of 
licatinj;  tlio  onciny  on  tlic  I'.ltii.  Tiiis  I  am  certain  of:  Arnold  Ikh  all  the 
credit  of  tlie  aetion;  and  this  I  fiirtlicr  know,  tiiat  tiatcs  a>kcd  \\licr<' 
the  troops  were  going  when  Seanuners  battuUion  nainlii'd  out,  and 
npon  Ijeinnr  (uld,  lie  declared  no  more  tmops  should  ^'o;  ho  would  not 
suffer  the  camp  to  be  exposed.  Had  Gates  coniplii'il  with  Arnold's 
repeat:?d  desires,  he  would  have  obtained  a  general  and  com{)lete  victory 
over  the  enemy.  IJut  it  is  evident  to  me  he  never  inti'iided  to  fight 
liurgoyne  until  Arnold  urged,   begged  and  entreate(l  him  to  do  it."  ' 

Colonel  Tarick,  in  another  letter,  alludiiiir  to  the  quarrel 
between  Arnold  and  Gates,  says:  "I  apprehend  if  Arnold 
leaves  us  we  shall  move,  unless  the  enemy  moves  up  the 
river.  He  has  the  full  confidence  of  the  troops,  and  they 
would  flight  i>;allantlv  under  him."  " 

AVriting  to  Schuyler,  Varick  says: 

"Camp,  Wednksday,  D  o'cLorK  A.  M.,   ) 
'•  Sept.  24,  1777.  )' 

"Your  very  polite  favor  of  the  21st  was  delivered  me  yesterday  by 

Maj.  Franks.     1  have  anticipated  the  answer  in  mine  of  *J'Jd  at  11  o'clock 

r.  M.,  and  the  2;h1  in  tlie  morning,  with  reference  to  Arnold  and  Lincoln. 

The  former  will,  I  believe,  remain  till  the  action  wo  expert  this  day  or 

to-morrow,  is  settled,  although  he  had  received  his  permit  to  go  down 

yesterday  morning.     *     *     I  am  hiippy  that  Arnold  lias  decided  to  stay. 

I  have  no  doubt  of  soin3  liot  work  this  day.     ]\Iany  dischargea  have 

already  happened  in  the  woods. "^ 

In  another  letter  of  the  24111,  Yarick  savs: 

"  General  Arnold  is  so  much  offended  at  the  treatment  Gates  has  given 
him,  that  I  make  not  the  least  doubt  the  latter  will  be  called  on,  as  .soon 
as  the  service  will  admit.''  ■* 

On  the  25th  Se]>temher,  Schuyler,  re])lying  to  Tarick's 
letter  of  21st,  says: 

1.  Schnylor  rnpers— ?rss.    I  roforalsoto  Lnssing's  T/ifo  of  Schuyler.  VqI.  II,  p.  C4'j. 

'J.  Scluiylor  rapers— MSS.    Varick  to  Seliiiylcr,  Sept  '21.  1777. 

.').  Sclniylor  Tapers.    Varicli  to  Schuyler,  Sept.  24,  1777. 

4.  Schuyler  Tapers— MSS. 


180 


LIFE   OF    DKNKDKT    AUXOIJ). 


"  A  report  |)n'V.iils  tliir  iv  s-pcond  i'nici;-)  liii.s  liapiK'ncd  hctwi'i-'ii  fliifcs 
mid  (iriii'ml  Aniolil,  and  I  liopo  it  U  not  of  Kueh  a  niituro  as  to  ol)lidi.'i> 
tliat  f,''allaiit  olficcrto  Icavi^  the  army.  It'  lu'  (\i»'^,  I  sliall  be  tar,  viTy  tar 
from  Ijoiuy  ao  easy  as  1  led  iiiyscll',  in  the  rellectioii  that  lie  is  witii 
you."> 

Ami  oil  the  2.jtli  of  Si-ptciiibcr,  Suliuyk-f,  in   rc]»ly   to 

Vtirick,  says: 

"lam  plaMfd  to  hear  that  our  fiallant  friend,  General  Arnold,  lias 
deternn'ned  to  remain  until  a  battle  .^iiall  have  ha|ipened,  or  (lenerai  Ihu- 
t^oyne  retreats.  Kverybody  that  I  havi!  conversed  with  on  tin;  subjeet  of 
the  dispute  between  Gates  ami  him.  tl  inks  Arnold  has  i)een  extremely 
ill-ti'e;;ti'd.  IhWGates)  will  probal>ly  be  indebt.'d  to  him  (.Arnold)  for 
the  ylory  ho  may  ai;(iniro  by  a  viitory;  bat  perhaps  he  is  so  very  sure  of 


of  it 


"•i 


success  that  ho  does  not  wish  tho  other  to  como  in  for  a  share 

Such    nve  tlii^    statt'iiietits   of  Coh)ncl   Varick.     Cuhmel 

Livinirstoir.s    !?tateiUL'iitti    ai'O    not    Ivaa    ex])lieit    ami    ccii- 

fhislve. 

In  a  h'ftcr  to  Schuyler  (latc'il  "  Camp,  Beinls' l[oi<^ht.-<.'' 

Soi)t.  2;](1,  1777,  he  says:' 

"  T  am  much  distressed  at  General  .Arnold's  determination  to  retire 
from  the  army  at  tliis  important  crisis.  His  ])resL>nce  was  never  mon' 
necessary.  He  is  the  life  and  soul  of  the  troops.  rJelievo  me,  Sir,  /'> 
hhn  alone  ift  (hie  llie  honor  of  our  hilc  rirtonj.  Whatever  share  his 
superiors  may  claim,  they  are  entitled  to  none.  He  enjoys  the  coiilidence 
and  affection  of  otfii'crs  and  soldiers.  They  would  to  a  man  follow  him 
to  conquest  or  death.  His  dejiartnre  will  dishearten  them  to  such  a  de- 
gree as  to  render  them  of  little  service." 

1.  Srhnylcr  Parers— MSS. 

2.  Scliuyler  to  Vuriuk,  Sept.  25,  177".    Schuyler  MSS. 

3.  Schuyler  MSS. 

This  is  tlie  text  of  the  letter: 

"Camp  AT  HiMrs  ITrrnuTS,     } 
'■  f^eiit.  J.i,  iT7(.  / 

"DkarSir: 

"1  iim  iliis  iiiouient  honoroil  with  your  fnvor  of  flie  21st  hy  Major  Franks.  Opiionil 
Lincoln  nrrived  licrc  Inst  ninlit,  iinil  iiiirt  of  his  iufanliy  cumcto-ilay;  the  re- 
mainder are  expected  to-uionow.  1  wrote  to  ymi  some  lime  since  ol  his  havini; 
detached  two  parties  to  Ticoiideriga  and  l'"ort  Independence.  Colonel  Varick  has 
^iven  yon  the  particulars  of  thr'  -access.  1  cannot  persuade  mys<.'lf  that  the 
iiionnt  will  he  taken. 

"  1  am  much  distressed  at  General  Arnold's  determination  to  retire  from  tlie  Army 


HIS   TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


181 


Tlic  next  clay,  Sept.  2-itli,  Aniuld  liaviiii^  in  consequence 
itt"  the  ex])ectiition  ut'  an  tn<^'M<^oiiK'nt,  dL'tcTniiued  to  re- 
nuiin,  Livingston  hastens  to  write  to  Sclniyler,  saying,  "as 

ftt  this  iinportiiiit  crisis,  nis  prcsciirc  was  mviT  iimro  lu-cossnry.  Hi'  Is  lliolifo  nml 
sdul  (if  Hk'  ini(i|  r.  ]tclii'\L'  iiic,  Sir.  to  him  iilnnc  is  (liiu  tlio  linimr  of  our  liiio 
Mclory;  wliatt'vor  ^hll^e  Ills  siiiitTlurs  iiiny  claim,  tlicy  arc  ciitilhd  to  nuiie.  Ihi 
ciijiiys  Ihc  cniiCKlencc  aii<l  ud'cctinii  <if  liis  olllicrs  ami  soUlicrs.  Tlicy  wcmld,  to  a 
man,  follow  lUiii  to  coiiqiK.st  or  death.  Hl8  dcpurture  will  dishearten  them  to  such 
ft  decree  as  to  render  them  of  little  service. 

"The  diHeieiiee  between  him  and  Mr.  O.  has  arisen  to  too  fjront  a  height  to 
admit  of  acomproini>-c.  1  have  for  some  time  |mst  oh^'i  vcd  the  (jreat  coolness,  nml 
in  many  instances,  even  disresjicct,  villi  wliieli  <ieneral  Artioid  has  been  treated  at 
lIeMd(iin\rters.  llis  pniiinsiils  have  been  rcjeclcil  witb  niarks  of  indii-uity.  His  ow  n 
orders  havt'  been  frequently  eounteruuinded,  and  himself  set  in  a  re  liculous  Unlit 
by  those  of  the  Coiiiiii<iutlcr-in-Cliiij'.  His  remonstrances  on  those  occasions  have 
been  termed  i>re>uiniituons.  In  short,  he  has  pocketed  many  Insults  for  tlie  sake  of 
hi.s  country,  which  a  man  of  less  pride  would  have  resentetl.  The  reticited  indlg- 
iilties  he  received  at  IciiKth  nniscd  his  spirit  and  determination  iiKaiii  to  remon- 
strate. He  waited  on  Mr.  (.lales  in  ])crson  last  evellill^^  Mutters  were  alienated  in  n 
vt'ry  hi;!h  strain.  Itoth  were  warm— the  latter  rather  pa-sioiuite  and  very  assumlnf; 
Towards  tlie  end  of  the  dcliMie  .Mr.  Ci.  told  Arnold  'lie  did  not  know  of  his  beinj,' 
a  Maj'ir-<ieneral.  lie  had  .'■cut  in  his  rcsif,'natioii  to  Consress.  lie  hail  never  given 
him  the  command  of  any  division  of  the  Army,  ficneral  Lincoln  would  be  here 
in  u  day  or  two,  and  that  then  he  should  have  no  occasion  for  him,  and  Wuuld  give 
him  a  pass  to  Philadelphia,  whenever  he  chose.' 

".Vrnnld  s  spirit  could  not  lirooke  this  u.sage.  He  rctnrncd  to  his  quarters,  reprc- 
scnteil  what  had  pas  ed,  in  a  lelli!r  to  Mr.  G.,  and  ic(|iiested  his  peiniission  t(j  go  to 
I'hiladelphia.  This  morning,  in  e(>mi>liance  to  his  letter,  he  received  a  permit  l)y  the 
w  ay  of  a  letter  directed  to  .Mr,  lluneoek.  He  sent  this  biu'k,  and  recpicsted  one  in 
jiroiier  form,  which  was  complied  witli.  Tomorrow  he  will  set  uut  lor  Albany.  The 
leason  of  the  present  disagreement  between  two  cronies  Is  simply  this:  Arnuld  in 
iinurjrinnl.  I  shall  attend  ihe  (iencral  down,  chagrining  as  it  may  bo  for  me  to 
leave  the  army  when  an  oppo'iunity  for  any  young  fellow  to  distinguish  him- 
self. I  can  no  longer  submit  to  the  command  of  a  man  whom  1  abhor  from  my 
very  soul.  His  conduct  is  disg\istiiig  to  cveiy  one,  except  his  flatterers  ami  de- 
\  endants,  among  whom  are  some  who  profess  to  be  your  friends,  A  cloud  is  gath- 
ering,and  may  crelongburst  on  hisbcad.  *  •  1-t.  Arden  is  just  returned  with  eight 
Tory  i)riso!icrs.  He  made  a  tour  as  far  as  Suratoga— was  in  your  house,  which  he 
found  is  much  damaged.  The  glasses  arc  entirely  gone,  the  pajier  ruined  and 
frame  much  Injured.  The  barn  and  other  out-buiidings  are  safe.  Two  letters  were 
taken  from  one  of  the  Tories  are  from  linryoyne  to  Urig.  Fond,  in  which  he  says- 
'  \Vc  left  ,")(K)  dead  on  the  field,'  He  is  silent  as  to  his  own  loss.  He  begs  that  St. 
I.eger  may  bo  hastened  on.  'I'he  Indiims  yon  have  sent  us  are  of  great  service;  not 
a  day  passes  without  their  taking  some  prisoners.  Make  my  best  respc  "s  to  Mrs. 
.^chnylcr  and  family. 

"  I  am,  dear  (icneral,  Ac, 

"  Henhy  B.  Livingston. 
"  General  Philip  Schuyler." 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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182 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


the  enemy   are  hourly  expected,  General   Arnold   cannot 
think  of  leaving  camp."  ' 

On  the  2Gth  of  September,  Livingston  wrote  again  to 
Schuyler,  saying: 

"  It  ffivps  mo  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  Gonoral  Amild  intends  to 
stay.  AVlicn  tho  general  officers  found  him  dobMininod  to  go,  they 
thought  it  necessary  to  take  Pome  measures  to  induce  him  to  continue  in 
the  army.  They  have  accordingly  written  him  a  letter  (signed  by  all  but 
Lincoln),  requesting  him  not  to  quit  the  sei-vice  at  this  critical  time.  Ho 
has  consented,  though  no  accommodation  has  taken  place." 

In  the  same  letter  he  speaks  of  an  attempt  being  made 
to  have  the  writer  turned  from  Gen.  Arnold's  familv. 


1.    Schuyler  MSS.    The  following  is  the  text  of  the  letter  of  24th  Sept : 

"  Camp  at  Hemis'  Heights,  ) 
"  Sept.  -.ii,  1777.  / 

"Dear  Sin: 

"  I  wrote  yon  last  evening  and  was  in  hoi  cs  to  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeini? 
you  to-day,  but  as  the  enemy  aie  )iiiuily  txix-dcd,  General  Arnuld  cannot  think  'f  Icavimi 
camp.  Three  deserters  came  in  this  niurninK,  and  it  was  rumored  in  the  cauip 
when  they  came  otT,  that  we  were  to  be  attacked  this  day.  13urgoyne  yesterday 
harranpued  the  soldiers,  and  to'.d  them  he  was  determined  to  leave  hisljonesoii 
tlie  field  or  force  his  way  to  Albany.  He  has  about  one  month's  salt  provisions  iu 
his  camp.  Three  Toric.  were  just  now  brought  iu  by  tlie  Oneidas;  they  conlirm  the 
report  of  the  deserters,  and  add  tliut  the  enemy  acljnowledL!ed"i)Ul>liely  to  have  lo^t 
700  killed  and  wounded  in  the  late  battle,  and  plume  themselves  with  a  coufldeueo 
that  our  loss  might  have  been  at  least  double. 

"  General  Arnold's  intention  to  quit  this  department  is  made  public,  and  has 
caused  great  unensiness  among  tlie  soldiers,  'io  induce  him  to  stay,  General  Poor 
pnjposed  an  address  from  the  geneial  oflleers  and  colonels  of  his  division,  return- 
ing him  thanks  fur  his  past  services,  and  particularly  for  his  conduct  during  the 
late  action,  and  requesting  him  to  stay.  The  address  wiis  framed  and  consented  to 
by  Poor's  otlieers.  Those  of  General  Learned  refused.  They  acquiesced  in  the 
propriety  of  tho  measure,  but  were  afraid  of  giving  umbrage  to  General  Gates— a 
paltry  excuse  for  oilicers  of  rank  to  allege  iu  excuse  fur  not  doing  their  duty.  As 
this  method  has  failed,  I  sec  no  other  way  left  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  but 
by  the  interposition  of  the  General  oilicers.  This  has  been  proposed  to  Lincoh\. 
He  is  now  anxious  fur  Arnold's  stay,  and  will  push  the  matter.  I  hope  he  may 
succeed,  as  I  think  he  isan  otlicerof  too  much  moment  to  be  neglected— thoui;h  it 
may  be  a  mortifying  situation  for  any  Gentleman  of  spirit  to  submit  to  the  petuleut 
humors  of  any  man,  be  his  rank  ever  so  high. 

"  I  am  with  due  respect  and  esteem.  Sir, 
"  Your  friend. 

"  llESHY  B.  LlVI.NGSTO.N. 

"  Major  General  Schuyler." 


HIS    PATKIOTISM    AND   HIS    TKKASOX. 


183 


*'  Maj.  Chester,"  '  says  ho,  "atti'inpto  1  to  hrin?  about  a  reconciliation. 
For  this  purpose  he  coiisulteil  with  the  Deputy  AdjutantUenerul,  anil  in 
tlie  course  of  their  conveivation  was  told  that  souie  overtures  were 
necessary  on  Arnold's  side  ;  that  (len  (iates  was  jealous  ot  nie,  and  that 
1  hud  iiilluenced  Arnold's  conduct,  and  that  ofcoursf  it  was  necessary  to 
j^et  rid  of  nie  to  open  a  way  for  acconmioilation.  AViien  this  was  told  to 
Arnold,  ho  could  not  contain  himself,  and  desired  Chester  to  return  for 
answer:  '  that  his  judgment  had  never  been  intliuMicecl  Ity  any  one,  and 
that  he  would  not  sacri/icc  a  Jikud  for  (he  'J'mt  of  cUii/.''  "  * 


1.  The  snmc  Mnj.  Chester  with  wlunn  LiviuKinii  fnuKht  ii  dut'l  in  (Icfciisc  of 
Amokl,  or  alioiit  a  mattor  growing  out  of  the  quurrel  between  Gates  ami  Arnold. 

2.  Tliej  following  is  tlio  text  of  l-ivingstou"*  letter  (letter  of  Sei>t  ■^('>). 

"CAMI-  at  IlllMIS  IIKKIUTS,       ) 

"feiit.  J)).  1777.  j" 

"  Dear  Sir  : 

"  I  am  lavorod  with  yours  of  the  25th,  ami  am  niueh  oMiKcd  for  the  iiitellij;en<'e 
you  gave  nie ;  lam  partieuliirly  happy  tu  hear  that  the  eiieiuy  have  letl  New 
.leisey.  'that  .'■tute  has  had  its  frhare  of  the  calamities  of  war,  and  needs  some 
respite  to  reeover  its-elf. 

"  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  (Jeneral  Arnold  intends  to  stay.  When 
tlie  General  OilUers  found  him  determiued  to  go,  they  thiiusrht  it  necessary  to  take 
some  measures  til  induce  his  eontinuance  in  the  arniy.  Tliey  liave,  aeeordingly, 
wrote  him  a  letter  (sij^ned  by  all  but  Lincoln)  reiiuesting  him  not  to  quit  the  ."^erviee 
lit  this  eritieal  moment,  lie  has  consented,  though  uo  aeeommodation  has  taken 
place.    *    • 

"  1  find  myself  under  the  necessity  of  returning  to  Albany,  merely  to  satisfy  the 
caprice  and  jealousy  of  a  certain  treat  jier.son.  It  las  b.en  several  times  insinu- 
ated by  the  Commander  in-Chief  to  Ueneral  Arnold,  that  his  mind  has  In  en 
poi.soned  and  prejudiced  by  some  of  his  family,  and  1  have  been  )>ointed  out  as  the 
P«Tson  who  had  this  undue  inllueme  over  him.  Arnold  hud  always  m  ide  proper 
replies  on  these  occasions,  and  despised  the  reflection.  Itut  since  the  last  rupture, 
another  attempt  has  been  ma<le  in  a  low,  indirect  nuiiiner,  to  have  me  turned  fiom 
(ieneral  Arnold's  family.  Major  (,'l:ester  (who,  by  the  way,  is  an  imiiertinent 
jiodant)  attempted  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation.  For  this  piiipnse  he  considted 
with  the  Lieu't-Adj't  Oeneial,  and  in  the  cour.>>e  of  their  conversation  was  told 
that  .some  overtures  were  neees.'.ary  on  ArnoM's  side;  that  tJeneral  Gates  was 
jealous  of  me,  and  thought  I  had  inllueneed  Arnold's  condiu't,  ami  that  of  course 
it  was  nccesttry  to  get  rid  of  me  to  open  a  way  lor  acconi:nodalion.  When  this  trail 
told  to  Arnold  lie  could  ncarci'i/  cotilniu  >iiiiii"'j,  nwd  desired  Chester  to  return  for 
answer:  that  his  judynunt  had  never  been  inllueneed  by  any  man,  and  that  he 
would  tiulyiu'iijlce  (tj'iit ml  to  please  the  'I""aee  of  clay,' 

"Arnold  tohl  me  what  had  pa.sseil,  and  insisteil  on  my  remaining  with  him.  As 
I  find  tliis cannot  be  done  consistently  with  the  harnu)ny  of  the.se  two  gentlemen, 
1  shall  leave  camp  to-morrow.  I  purposed  to  have  set  oil'  to  day,  but  .\rnold  in- 
sisted on  my  staying  at  least  this  day,  lest  it  should  appear  like  a  concession  on  his 
part.  1  have  taken  no  pains  to  cure  any  one  of  the^e  jealou-sies  but  let  their  own 
feelings  prompt  them. 

"  Two  deserters  have  come  in  this  morning;  they  sny,  this  is  tho  day  fixed  to  at- 
t.'.ck  us.    I  believe  Iheze  \vill  be  (pajier  toiu).    General  .\rnold  scndi^i  his  best  w  ishes 


184 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


The  statements  of  Yarick  and  Livingston,  tliat  Arnold 
leus  on  the  field  and  led  his  troops,  settle  beyond  contro- 
versy the  facts  in  relation  to  Arnold's  conduct  on  the  19th 
of  Septeinher,  and  show  the  estimation  in  Avhich  he  ^vas 
held  by  his  fellow  soldiers.  One  cannot  read  the  i^hjwiniij 
testimony  of  Judge   Livingston    in    regard    to    Arnold's 

to  you.    Ho  would  write,  but  is  prevented  by  business.    Minewniton  Mrs. -ehuy" 

ler  uiid  lumily.    1  uui  \s.\\\  great  e^iituuiu. 

"  Yuur  utTeclinimte  liumlile  servant, 

"  llENUV  U.  LiVlNGSTUN. 

"  Major  General  Sohuyler." 

—Sliiii/Ur  MSS. 


;    : 


Also  letter  of  Colonel  Vurick,  as  follows: 

"  CAMr.  fF.rr.  Cl.")Tir,  1777,  > 
'"  7o' eloek,  1'.  M.        / 
"  Dear  Gen'i,: 

"  This  arternonn  I  was  Iionfirod  with  your  very  prilite  favor  of  this  Date. 

"As  to  tlie  .>>nlpjc'ct  (if  I)ispute  tietwecu  tlie  tientlenien  mentioned  in  Yours,  the 
en('lii>eil  from  .Majnr  Livinsston  will  inform  yo\i  furtlicr.  It  seems  that  it  is  a  heart- 
sore  to  yuur  succes-',  or  that  our  Miij<ir  should  iive  with  Arnold.  He  has  thrown 
out  in  an  unnumly  manner,  that  Arnold'.s  mind  was  jioi-soned  by  some  of  tliose 
about  him— heie  1  feel  myself  toueTieil,  althouyh  the  person  alluded  to  in  mine  '" 
(I  think)  the  IKih,  who  atlects  jjriat  friendship  for  you,  was  polite  cnou'.;h  t( 
Major  Chester,  LiviiiRston's  antaj,'onist,  that  the  lirsl  step  towards  an  aceomnuA...- 
tion  will  be  to  pet  rid  of  Mvintrstoii.  This  Arnold  was  inlormed  of,  but  disdained 
so  inii<il)le  an  act.  ],ivin(,'ston  has  too  mueh  re.Mird  lor  his  eouiUry  to  remain, 
when  by  .saeritieioK  his  own  pleasure,  he  may  possibly  promote  its  weal ;  tlus  how- 
ever is  but  ostentiilion.  As  1  conceive  the  hint  to  be  intendeil  iby  (iate's  frieiidi  for 
me  also,  I  i-hall  avoid  as  mueh  as  possible  Koini?  to  Arnold's,  lest  I  may  be  the 
ostensible  cause  of  Dispute.  Liviiipston  will  kg  down  to-morrow,  and  if  there  is  no 
probability  of  an  action  by  Saturday  or  Stniday,  1  shall  follow  him,  tlKjUfjh  it 
W(ndd  nive  nie  more  jileasure  if  1  could  see  Saratoga  llrst ;  this  pleasure  I  fancy  I 
should  have  this  day  er.joyed,  if  'ieneral  Gales  had  either  lurnished  Arnold  with 
troops  on  the  luth.  or  jicimitted  us  to  no  out  on  the  '.'Oth  while  the  ICncniy  were  iti 
confusion,  and  are  now  in  liifjli  spirits  aiul  rcjoieinn  in  their  iiii>l  Victory,  A  Victory 
1  will  not  call  it  when  we  drove  them  from  the  field  of  battle,  whieli  was  of  no  fur- 
ther use  to  us  when  nitiht  came  on,  and  we  retire<l  doliherate'y  toour  camp,  leavinjj 
tliem  to  bury  oi:.r  Dead  the  luxt  day— A  day,  the  loss  of  which  we  nniy  severely 
regret. 

"The  enemy  are  strouijly  encamped  and  fortified,  ond  I  do  not  Imaj^ine  Gates 
will  attack  tliein,  nor  will  it  be  piudent  for  them  to  attack  us. 

"If  our  army  moves  by  Sttttirday  noon  or  StuKlay,  I  shall  continue  here;  it  not, 
Tiiy  Duty  will  oblige  mc  to  return  to  Albany  and  sij;n  the  Muster  IlaJJs,  before  1  see 
SaratoRa. 

'  It  is  said  the  Enemy  have  fortifyod  the  Ground  we  fought  on  with  a  work  12  or 
Ifi  I'eet  hijfh.  What  tise  this  can  be  of  unless  it  be  for  a  (iarrison  and  sale  (iinird 
for  his  stores.  It  is  hardly  practicable  to  take  it 'couj)  de-maiu' as  it  iiialiigh 
ground  surrounded  by  vallies. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    IIIS   TREASON. 


185 


services,  and  the  extent  to  wliicli  lie  enjoyed  tlie  confidence 
and  all'ection  of  ollicers  and  soldiers,  and  tlie  declaration 
that  "they  would,  to  a  man,  follow  hlni  to  con(|uest  or 
death,"  without  bein^  convinced  that  he  must  have  pos- 
sessed other  qualities  which  soldiers  love,  besides  courage. 

It  is  pr()])er  to  add  that  Colonel  Livingston,  after  being 
on  the  start' of  Schuyler  and  Arnold,  went  to  Spain  as  the 
Secretary  of  John  ,1  ay,  whose  sister  he  married.  Afterwards 
he  was  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  ><'e\v  York,  ami 
then  Justice  of  the  Suj)reme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

I  cite  also  the  testimony  of  Charles  Neilson.'  lie  gives 
as  his  authority  his  father,  who  was  in  the  engngement  as 
a  guide,  and  had  occupied  a  portion  of  the  battle-rteld  as  a 
farm,  and  this  statement  of  an  eye  witness  is  as  !Neilson 
says,  corroborirted  by  many  olHcers  and  soldiers  who  were 
])resent.     Neilson  says: 

"About  the  time  General  Philij  s  arrived  on  the  field 
with  the  artillery.  General  Arnold,  on  a  gray  horse  and 
under  full  speed  froni  the  scene  of  action,  rode  up  to  Gen- 
eral Gates,"  *  *  and  t-aid:  "  (ieneral,  the  Ih-itish  are 
reinforced — we  must  have  more  men."     General  (iates  re- 

"I  beUeve  you  arc  not  nnicl)  in  tlic  wrong  in  yonr  ronjrctnres  tliat  (iaios  was 
Mire  of  siiO(  ess,  nnd  wi^lieil  to  nsciibe  all  the  honor  to  himself,  ns  no  other  ollicer 
lexcept  Arnolil)  hail  eniin«h  of  a  Gentleman's  spirit  to  ilispute  it  with  him. 

"  This  morning  the  (  neniy's  jiiekei  of  (iernian's  in  tlie  rear  were  attacked  nnd 
would  have  heeii  nil  secured  had  nut  the  Fopg  (which  was  very  intense)  prevented 
it :  six  were  killed  aud  one  firisoiier;  the  rest  escnjied.  The  prisoner  hail  a  ral  and 
the  end  of  his  title,  but  he  did  not  know  whether  he  was  a  Gene/a/  or  a  Cnrponi;. 

'•  (ieneral  Gales  said  this  afternoon  that  his  army  was  at  least  3,000  stronger  than 
Ij  days  since;  that  Lincoln  liad  l.OitO  Hank  and  tile. 

■■  As  this  is  like  to  be  a  rainy  ni^ht,  liurfjoyne  inny  possibly  Ic  fool  enough  to 
make  a  tryal  to  push  on,  or  try  our  pickets.    (Taper  torn— illetiihle.) 

"I  am  exeeedinRly  hapi)y  in  the  GikhI  Wishes  of  your  family.  I  need  not  assure 
you  that  they  have  ever  hud  mine.  I  wisli  my  best  re-peels  to  Mrs.  Schuyler,  wiili 
I  hunks  for  tlie  Butter  she  has  lieeu  so  Rood  as  to  semi  me.  Miss  Pe^'gy  and  the  Young 
Gentleman  also  claim  my  best  rei;nrds. 

"  i  am.  dear  sir, 

"  Very  sincerely  nnd  alfcctlonnte'y  Yours, 

"  iCKu'u  Vauk  K. 
"To  Iloti.  Cen'l  Schuyler." 

—.sriniylr  .V.*."?. 
1.    Turgoyne's  Campaign,  by  Charles  Neilson,  published  by  Muntell,  lf=-i4,   p.  14R. 


18G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


t  ti 


])liet!,  "Yon  sliall  have  them,"  and  immctliiitoly  onlcivd 
Learncd's  brigade,  when  Arnold  hurried  haek  on  a  lull  •gal- 
lop, and  the  men  after  him  in  a  double-(|uit'k  time. 

lie  adt's:  "  These  incidents  were  well  known  at  the  time, 
and  often  sjiokcn  of  afterwanls  to  this  day,  and  the  author 
relates  them  in  contradiction  to  what  was  said  by  AV'ilkin- 
son  respecting  Arnold."  ' 

If  any  further  proof  is  desired,  it  may  be  found  in  the 
.account  of  the  battle,  sent  by  e.xjtrctJS  from  (Jeneral  (Jates' 
]iead(|Uarters,  on  the  afterimon  «»f  Se])teinber  tilst,  by^^fajor 
Cochran  to  the  Council  of  JSafety,  at  Uemiington,  A'ernioiit, 
as  follows  : 

"General  Arnold  with  his  division,  attacked  a  division  of  Biirifoyne. 
in  which  General  Arnold  gained  the  fjruiind  ;  wIkmi  tlie  enemy  were 
reinforced  by  the  main  body,  when  General  Arnold  was  oltli^'iil  to  retreat; 
l)ut  beinj,'  reinfoiced,  recovered  iiis  own,  so  that  the  f,'ronnd  remained  at 
eight  o'clock  yesterday  divided  between  them.  Tiiis  account  came  by 
express  from  General  Gates'  head-quarters  yesterday  attemoon  by  .Major 
Cochran."  ».» 

The  English  commander  and  his  officers  do  not  mention 

any  other  general  officer  on  the  lield  in  the   battle  of  the 

lOth  September,   except  Arnold.     General   liurgoym^,    in 

his  account  of  the  campaign,  before  the  House  of  Commons, 

in  1770,  says : 

"Mr.  Gates  had  determined  to  receive  the  attack  in  his  lines.  Mr. 
Arnold,  wlio  commanded  on  the  lelt,  for.seeing  the  dan;,'er  of  being 
turned,  advanced  without  consultation  with  his  gonf.'rai,  and  gave 
eiistead  of  receiving  battle.  The  stroke  might  have  been  fatal  on  his 
part  had  he  tailed.     But  confident  I  am,  upon  a  minute  examination  of 

1.  Burgoync's  Campaign,  by  C  harlcs  NcUson,  pp.  148-9—150-101.  See  rrefncc,  p. 
8.  Ditto  p,  15;i.  "The  fact  of  Arnold's  being  present  on  tlie  lield  during  tlie  ac- 
tion of  tlie  I'JtIi,  nnd  actually  liciuliiiff  the  troi)i)s  that  eiisaged  Fraxer's  division, 
is  also  conlinuel  by  a  number  who  were  present  and  wlio  were  engaged  iu  tlio 
battle." 

i.    Vermont  Historical  Society  I'ollections,  Vol.  I,  p.  2:19. 

;i.  See,  also,  Maiiiizine  of  Am.  History,  Vay,  1878,  p.  'JTS  :  "  Col.  Philip  Van  Court- 
hindt,  who  commanded  a  New  Yorlc  regiment  engaged  In  the  fight,  says  that  alter 
lie  had  lelt  his  parade  and  was  marching  towards  tlie  enemy,  ho  received  his  orders 
from  Gen.  Arnold." 


IirS    rATUIOTiSM    AND    HIS    TUEASOX. 


187 


the  pround  since,  tliat  liad  the  otlicr  idea  been  pursued,  I  should  in  a 
ti'w  iioiu-H  pained  a  position,  that  in  spite  ol'  the  Enneniy's  lumbers  wouKl 
have  put  them  in  my  i>()wt'r."  ' 

It  wouUl  1)C  clifliciilt  to  find  any  account  of  tlio  battle, 
written  before  iiis  treason,  in  which  Arnold  is  not  men- 
tioned as  leading  the  American  troops,  for  no  man  ever  dis- 
covered that  he  was  not  on  the  field  until  after  his  con- 
si  >i  racy. 

The  testimony  now  to  be  cited  of  historians  and  writers, 
is  important  oidy  as  showin<j^  how  candid  and  impartial 
judges  have  regarded  the  evidence.  In  the  face  of  the  just 
and  universal  ])rejudice  against  him,  the  proof  has  com- 
pelled, often  against  their  inclination,  a  very  lai'go  majority 
of  the  ablest  writers  to  give  the  credit  and  the  glory  of  the 
battle  of  the  nineteenth  of  September  to  General  Arnold. 

"Washington  Irving,  in  his  Life  of  AVashington,  delin- 
eates the  battle  and  the  generalship  of  Arnold,  as  follows: 

"  *  *  *  The  American  oiHcors  prcw  impatient.  Arnold  especially, 
impetuous  by  nature,  urped  repeatedly  that  a  detachment  should  be  sent 
forth  to  check  tlie  enemy  in  their  advance,  and  drive  the  Indians  out  of 
the  woods. 

"At  lenpth  he  succeeded  in  pettinp  permission,  about  noon,  to  detach 
Morgan  with  his  riflemen  and  Dearborn  with  his  infiintry,  from  his  divis- 
ion. '1  hey  soon  fell  in  with  the  Canadians  and  Indians,  which  formed 
the  advance  puard  of  the  enemy's  ripht,  and  attacking  them  with  spirit, 
drove  them  in,  or  rather  dispersed  them.  ^lorgan's  riflemen,  iollowinp 
up  their  advantage  with  too  much  eagerness,  became  likewise  scattered, 
and  a  strong  reinforcement  of  royalists  arriving  on  the  scene  of  action, 
the  Americans,  in  their  turn,  were  obliged  to  give  way.  Other  detach- 
ments now  arrived  from  the  American  camp,  led  by  Arnold,  who  attacked 
Kraser  on  his  right,  to  check  hisatlemiit  to  get  in  the  rear  of  the  camj). 
Finding  the  position  of  Fraser  too  string  to  be  forced,  ho  sent  to  heail- 
quarters  for  reinforcements,  lait  thi\v  were  refused  by  Gates,  who  de- 
tlareil  that  no  more  should  go;  '  he  would  not  suHer  his  camp  to  be  ex- 
posed." ' 


1.    Burgryr.e's  Expedition.    Gen.  Uurgoyiic's  XarnUive,  London,  17S0,  p. '.C. 
al~o,  p.  CO. 
•J.    Irving's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  243. 


Sic 


i  .::  -.::.v'.il?l 


188 


LIFE   OF  BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


"  *  *  Arnold  now  made  a  rapid  counter-march,  and  liia  niovf-nients 
lieinjf  masked  by  tlie  woods,  sndiloidy  a'tcmptod  to  turn  Frascr's  left. 
Hero  he  came  in  lull  conllict  with  the  Jhitish  line,  and  threw  himself 
upon  it  with  a  boldness  and  iuip-'tuosity  that  for  a  time  threatened  to 
break  it,  and  cut  the  winf,'s  of  tlie  army  asunder.  Tiie  j^renadiers  iind 
Rreyman's  riflemen  lastened  to  its  support,  fieneral  I'hiilips  broke  his 
way  thro\igh  the  woods  with  lour  jiieees  of  artillery,  and  liiedcsel  came 
on  with  his  heavy  dnifjoons.  Heinlorti'ments  came  likewise  to  Arnold's 
assistiinc(i;  his  force,  however,  never  exceeded  threi'  thousmid  men,  and 
with  those,  for  nearly  four  hours,  he  kept  up  a  conflict  ahiiost  hand  to 
hand  with  the  who'e  right  wing  of  the  l^ritish  army.  Part  of  the  time 
the  Americiins  had  the  advantiige  of  fif,d)tinf;  under  the  cover  of  a  wood, 
so  favorable  to  their  militia  and  sharpshooters,  liuryoyno  ordered  the 
woods  to  be  cleared  by  the  bayonet.  His  troops  rushed  forward  with 
a  hurrah!  The  Americans  kept  within  their  entrenchments,  and  repeat- 
edly repulsed  them;  but  if  they  pursued  their  advantage,  and  advanced 
into  open  fieM,  they  were  in  their  turn  driven  liack. 

"Night  alone  put  an  end  to  a  conllict  which  the  British  acknowledged 
to  have  been  the  most  obstinate  and  hardly-fought  they  had  ever  exiieri- 
enced  in  America.  *  *  *  *  Arnold  was  excessively  indignant  at 
Gates'  withholding  the  reinforcements  he  had  required  in  thi;  heat  of  the 
action;  hud  they  been  furnished,  he  saiil,  he  migiit  inive  S"vered  the  line 
of  the  enemy  and  gained  a  complete  victory,  ile  was  in-gent  to  resume 
the  action  on  the  succeeding  nKjrning  and  follow  up  the  advantage  he 
liad  gained,  but  Gates  declined,  to  his  additional  annoyance."  ' 

Lossin<:j,  in  his  Field  Uook  of  the  llevolutioii,"  siys: 

"Let  us  pause  a  moment  and  render  justice  to  as  brave  a  soldier  as 
ever  drew  blade  for  freedom.     *    *     I  mean  Benedict  Arnold.     *    *" 

Botta,  who  wiw  acquainted  with  many  of  the  foreign  officers  who 
sei-ved  in  the  war,  and  whoso  sources  of  correct  infornnition  were  very 
ample,  observes : 

"  *  Arnold  upon  this  occasion  exhibited  all  the  impetuosity  of  his  cour- 
age.   He  encouraged  his  men  by  voice  and  example.' 

"Steadman,  a  British  officer,  says  in  his  History  of  the  American  War: 

"  'The  enemy  were  led  to  the  battle  by  General  Arnold,  who  distin- 
guished himself  in  an  extraordinary  manner.'  " 

Lossin<T,  in  liis  life  of  Schuyler,  sfijs: 

'"To   Arnold's   skill    and   darin<^,    -whicli    animated   his 

1.  Ifvlng's  life  of  Washington,  Vol.  HI,  pp.  34J-.34o. 

2.  Lossiug's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,  Vol.  I,  p.  63. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TItEASON. 


189 


troop-5,  was  cliicny  duo  tlic  credit  of  successfully  rcsistiui; 

the  iuroads  iit  I'emis'  Ih'ii^lits."  ' 

Cultuiel  A^arick.  writiui^  to  Schuyler  from  Albany,  says: 
"During  I'urgoyuo's  stay  here   he  gave  Arnold   ^reat 

credit  for  his  bravery  and  liis  military  abilities;  es])ecially 

in  the  action  of  the  nineteenth,  whenever  he  speaks  of  liim, 

and  once  in  the  presence  of  Gates."" 

1.  Lossing's  Schuyler,  Vol.  If,  p.  n40, 

2.  A  very  late,  ncciinitt'  iiinl  til)!c  iinircssionnl  writor.Cciicriil  rnrrinRtnn,  Trofcs- 
sor  of  Military  Sciftifu,  itc,  in  his  "  lUittlcs  of  the  AiiiiTicaii  Kc'Vd'.ution,"  says, 
p.  U2 : 

"  *  *  ♦  To  wliat  cxtcrit  General  Arnold  nccrmpnnied  the  successive  portions  of 
his  rtivisifjn,  which  hore  thebruntof  tliis  day's  fiylit,  is  ni>t  clearly  or  uniformly 
iletined  l)y  historians.  That  contempnriineotts  history  gnvo  his  division  credit  is 
iiowliere  questioned;  and  ihat  he  was  a  listless  (■hserver,  or  renminc(l  in  camp  re- 
jjardless  of  the  fact  tliat  ho  was  responsible  for  the  entire  left  win;,',  w  liich  was  then 
assaile<I,  is  j  erfectly  inc<rnsistent  with  his  nature  ami  the  position  hi'  occupied, 

'•  Wilkinson,  Adjutant  General  of  Gates,  ami  by  virtue  thcrenf  ' piiiiKt  /iiria'  good 
authority  as  to  Ihe  acts  of  Gates,  makes  the  remarkable  statement  that  'not  u 
single  general  ofhcer  was  on  the  Held  of  battle  the  nineteeidh  of  September  until 
eveidng,'  and  states  the  execution  of  this  wonderful  military  exploit,  that 'the 
battle  was  fouglii  by  the  general  ci  neert  and  zealous  co-operation  of  the  corps  en- 
giiged,  and  sustained  more  by  indiviiiual  couraire  than  military  discipline.' 

•'  Bancroft  states  that '  Arnold  was  not  on  the  (ield  ;'  and  adds,  '  so  witnesses  Wil- 
kinson, whom  Marshall  knew  personally  ami  believed.'  I!ut  Marshall  .says,  '  He- 
inforcements  were  continually  l)riini,'ht  up,  anii  about  four  o'dnck  .\rnold.  with 
nine  continental  regiments  and  Mor:^an's  cori  s,  was  completely  engaged  with  the 
whole  right  wing  of  the  Rritish  army.  The  conflict  was  extremely  severe,  and  only 
terminated  with  the  day.'  *  »  ♦  There  was  little  disp  sitiou  on  the  part  of 
historians,  who  wrote  just  after  the  war.  to  do  Arnold  just  co  for  real  merit;  b\it 
Stedman,  equally  good  authority  with  Gordon,  in  most  respects,  says:  '  The  enemy 
were  led  to  battle  by  General  Arnold,  who  distinguished  liimself  in  an  extia<irdi- 
nary  manner.'  l>awson,  vho  htm/rvt  ii»/)f»i'o?'s  in  (lie  can  fid  exumniiitmn  of  Amiricnn 
history,  and  I.ossing,  who  has  devoted  hislifc  to  this  class  of  specialties,  and  'lomes, 
concur  with  Marshall;  while  Colonel  Varick,w  riting  immediately  from  the  camp,  and 
Xellson  and  Hall,  and  many  other  writers,  give  to  Arnold  not  merely  the  credit  of 
superintending  the  Held  operations  of  his  division,  but  of  leading  them  in  person. 
It  is  diflicult  to  umlcrstaud  how  the  nitlulrawal  of  troops  from  1- "racer's  front,  and 
their  transfer  to  the  Hritish  centre,  with  the  eonsc(iucnt  movements  descril)ed  by 
deiicral  Burgoyne,  which  required  such  rapid  and  exhausiivc  employment  of  the 
whf)le  force  which  hebro\ight  into  action,  ciaild  have  taken  place  uu(lirected,  and 
with  nostrong  will  to  hold  the  troojis  to  the  attack  and  ili'leiise. 

"It  is  material  that  other  tacts  be  considered  in  order  to  appreciate  the  value  of 
Wilkinson's  statement.  He  was  a  young  man  about  twiuty  years  of  age,  restles.s 
migratory  in  the  camp,  and  liki  boy  in  his  eagerness  to  see  everything  every- 
where. Ih,"  exercised  his  function,  us  Assistant  Ad|nlaut  fieneral.  as  if  he  were  the 
duplicate  of  his  thief,  and  repeatedly  gave  ordeis  as  if  ihe  Uvo  pen  jus  made  the 


190 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Pcrliaps  too  'iitidi  space  has  been  fi^ivcn  to  a  question 
Mliich  would  never  liave  boon  raised  at  all  but  for  Arnold's 
treason,  and  would  pcarcely  have  deserve(l  serious  consid- 
eration,  but  that  ISIr.  ]>ancrot't  luis,  without  careful  investi- 
•jjation,  never  liavinc^  seen,  as  I  am  comiicllcd  to  believe,  the 
letters  of  Yarick  and  Livinfrston,  permitted  himself  to  be 
misled  by  the  dictum  of  AVilkinson. 

The  wh(»le  army,  as  is  clearly  shown  by  the  letters  of  Yarick 
and  Li  vini,'ston,  j^ave  to  Arnold  the  glory  of  bravely  and  skill- 
fully fi2;htin<ij  this  battle.  An  old  soldier  who  was  with  liim 
in  the  battle,  quaintly  but  clearly  ex])resses  the  verdict  of 
his  comrades,  saying: ' 

"Arnold  was  our  fiprhting  general,  and  a  bloody  fel- 
low he  was.  He  didn't  care  for  nothing;  he'd  ride  riglit 
in.  It  was  'come  on  l>oys,'  't'want  'go  boys.'  He  was  as 
brave  a  man  as  ever  lived.  They  didn't  treat  him  right. 
JIc  ouglit  to  have  had  Jbirgovne's  swonh  Ihit  he  ou^jht  to 
luive  been  true;"  and  the  old  soldier  seemed  to  grieve  over 
the  defection  of  liis  commander,  as  a  father  mourns  over 
the  dishonor  of  a  son. 

Rcncral  conimai.diiiK.  ••••••  ArnoM  also,  In  li!s  o1>Jcctlons  to  tlio  trnnsfcr 

(pf  MorRiiii  I'niiii  liis  coinniaiid,  ninl  neither  rjutrs  luir  Wilkinson  dissent  from  his 
vtntenicnt,  tlms  'nUln  sses  Oenernl  (intcs:  "On  the  I'.iih  inst.,  wlicn  mlvicc  wns  re- 
ceived that  the  enemy  were  npiiroaehinsr.  1  t()<)l<  the  lilierty  to  j,'ive  it  as  my  opinion 
that  we  oniilit  to  march  out  and  attacic  tlu'ni,  Y'li  desired  me  to  send  <'oU)nel 
Morpan  and  llic  I-iglit  Artillery  tosn|ip(>rt  tliem.  I  ol)cyed  your  orders,  and  before  tlie 
action  wns  over  I  found  it  necessary  to  send  out  tlie  whole  of  my  division  to  sup- 
port the  attack.'     •>!••* 

'•  It  is  a  fart  that  General  Gates  did  not  pass  under  fire,  ncithor  was  It  necessary  for 
him  to  do  so;  but  the  whole  conduct  of  tliat  olliccr.  and  of  his  Adjutant  General, 
savors  of  the  disgust  with  which  in  an  earlier  war.  King  .-aul  heard  the  shouts  thiit 
'."^aul  had  slain  his  thousands,  but  Jiavid  his  tens  of  thou-^ands.'  Arnold  must 
stantl  credited  with  persoMl  valor,  and  a  gallant  defense  of  the  left  wing  of  the 
American  army  on  the  nine.eenth  day  of  September,  1777. 

"There  is  no  method  of  determining  the  details  of  Ills  conduct,  and  the  student 
of  history  must  unite  witli  Sparks  and  Irving  and  Marshall,  in  the  general  .senti- 
ment that  Morgan  only,  of  American  oirieers,  can  compete  with  Arnold  for  the 
brightest  laurels  of  the  Saratoga  campaign." 

1.    Samuel  Downing,  heretofore  quoted. 


f 


CHAPTER  X. 


SECOND  BATTLE  OF  SARATOGA. 


"Gales  will  be  indelitod  to  liiiu  (Ariiulil)  for  tlie  glory  lie  iiiny  m  fiiiiio  by  a  vic- 
tory,"—Genera/  J'/iUii)  Si'hnylei: 

QUARREL    BETWEEN    GATES    ANT)    ARNOLD  — ACTION    OP    OCTOBER    7TII  — IlKllolsn    OF 

Arnold— Gaves  Tries  in  vain  to  Recall  him  from  tiie  Field— Mordan,  by 
Direction  op  Aunold.  f>r:i)Ei:3  iiis  Kii'lemen  to  Fire  at  Fraser— Fiiaseu 
Shot— Senator  Foster's  Accovnt  of  Arnolk's  Charge,  as  Witnessed  by  his 
FATHEn— Arnold  Shot— Savks  the  Life  of  the  Soldier  wiio  Shot  him— 
CoNGRF.ss  Votf.s  him  Tiianks  and  the  Rank  hitherto  Refised— Washino 
ton  sends  him  his  New,  Ante-datid  ('o.mmis.«ion,  and  DixLARFii  HE  is  Re- 
stored "TO  A  Violated  Rkjiit." 

It  is  (lilKciilt  to  conceive  a  more  painful  position  than 
tliat  of  (ieneral  Arnold  after  the  battle  of  the  ll»th  of  Sep- 
tember. If  his  subsequent  crime  could  be  forgotten,  it 
would  not  be  jiossible  to  withhold  from  him  the  sympathy 
and  admiration  which  is  always  felt  for  a  mnn  of  ability 
sufferini^  from  undeserved  misfortune.  Thus  iar  liis  mili- 
tary career  had  been  brilliant — almost  without  a  parallel. 

lie  had  seen  as  much  or  more  hard  service — had  done  as 
much  downrifj;ht  hard  fightiiii^' — as  any  man,  Arashin<rton 
always  excepted,  of  his  rank  in  the  American  army.  The 
brightest  laurels  of  Greene,  so  nobly  won,  were  acquired 
later  in  the  Avar. 

In  the  spring  of  1777  he  went  to  Philadeliihia,  from  a 
short  volunteer  campaign  in  Connecticut,  in  which  his 
soldierly  qualities,   his  zeal,  his  energy,  his  activity,   his 

(191) 


If 


11)2 


») 


LIFK   OF   BKXEUKT    AUNOLI). 


('(ifdiiPfis  in  the  hour  of  siiprotno  iicril,  luul  literally  o\forU'<l 
j»raisi' and  pntiiKitiuri  fmiii  jiis  IntttT  I'lu-inii's,  Wlicii  iii- 
tc'lli^^cnco  ivac^htMl  SfluivU-r  that  Iliirijoyiie  was  a|i|>r(iachiii^ 
from  the  nortli,  he  called  for  Arnold,  and  Wasliinijt(»n  iirged 
Conirress  to  send  liim  without  "one  moment's  dithiv,"  he- 
cause,  to  use  Washiniftoii's  own  words,  he  was  "active,  ju- 
dicious and  l)rave,"  ami  hecause  "his  zeal  and  activity  will 
animate  'he  n)ilitia^re  'y."  Leaving  his  unsettled  accounts, 
ofVi'rini^  lo  serve  umler  luniors,  who  had  heen  ])romoted  over 
him,  some  of  them  without  a  military  record,  he  liad 
hastene<l  to  Hchuvler,  volunteere<l  to  lead  the  force  sent  out 
alouf^  the  hloody  trail  of  Oriskany  to  relieve  old  FortStan- 
wix,  and,  this  accomplished,  he  had  hastened  hack,  to  find 
(Jates  in  coimnand,  hut  takiui;  the  left  wiuir  <»f  the  armv, 
he  had  skirmished  heavily  and  snccesstidly  with  the  enemy. 
lie  had  fought  the  hattle  of  the  litth  of  SejitiMnher,  and 
now  he  found  himself  in  the  camp  of  the  soldiers  he  had  so 
latelv  led  to  victory  without  a  ciumixnul !  (Jates'  iealousv, 
Wilkinson's  hatred,  Arnold's  faithful  friendship  for  Schuy- 
ler, the  praises  and  enconiiums  of  Washin<^tou,  and  proh- 
ahly  his  own  im])erious  and  uiiyieldin<^  temper,  were  the 
causes  which  resulted  in  his  humiliation.' 

1.  As  nil  ilhistriition  of  tlic  injustice  done  to  Arnold  even  In  llio  most  minn'o 
details,  by  pome  liistoriiuis,  Hiiiicrort  says.  Vol.  IX.  (>.  Wu,  "Arnold,  wlio  (i.s.-iimcd  tluj 
part  of  Schuyler's  friend,  WHS  (luarrelsonie  and  in.subordliiiite,"  let  us  ^ce  what 
his  '  wititii'iilidii"  WHS.  We  lia\o  already  shown  that  ( Ol.  I,ivinf.'ston,  late  on 
Selinyh  r's  St  ill',  in  a  eonfidcntial  letter  to  Schuyler,  says  :  ''The  roasun  of  the  disa- 
ureeiuent  lietwcon  two  cronun  is  sinijily  tliis— .liH-jAi  is  your  Jrimd."  Sclinyler 
speaks  of  "our  gallant /)•/(•^'(^  Oen.  Arnold."  The  truth  is,  tliat  .\riiold  and  selniy- 
ler  were  warm  and  faithful  Jrirndu  all  throut'li  the  camiiaiuns  of  177il  and  1777,  anil 
afterwards.  If  Arnold  had  not  heen  faiiliful  to  sChuyler,  he  mi(.'lit  have  eontlnned 
tlie  favorit''  of  Gates,  and  then  he  would  have  been  the  acknowlctU'ed  htro  of  Hur- 
otoaa.  l!nt  he  was  independent  euouRh  to  bo  Sehnylrr's  (riend.  In  the  ramp  of 
dates,  and  dales  punished  him  I'lirit.  and  yet  Mr.  ISincrolt  says  that  hi}"  icwmnl  " 
to  be  Schuyler  s  friend.    The  treatnicnt  of  Aruold  by  sinne  hi-loiiaiis  suggests  ihe 


spirit  of  one  \v 


lio,  when  a  friemlle^s  and  obimxious  man  was  struck, 


iUt  "  hit 


him  again,  he  has  no  friends  here  !  "  Yet  to  slate  or  sUKgest  n  fal-ehood  niriiiust 
Arnold,  wliile  it  may  plea.se  popular  feelii  tMHi  1  "dd  tu  popular  lii.trt.d,  has  neilher 
chivalry  nor  Christianity  to  excuse  it. 


ins    I'ATKIOTISM    AND    HIS    TKEASON. 


11)3 


The  coolness,  or  more  tliati  oo(»ltics8  of  Gntoa  ami  his 
A(ljiitaiit-(iL'iu'i*al  towards  the  st'cond  in  coimnand,  had  1)0- 
cmiie  an  opt'ii  (jiiarrcl  \\\\vu  ^Ictr^'an's  {'or])S,  whicli  Iiad  hceii 
attached  to  the  left  wiiii^  under  the  ("inunand  of  Arnold 
ever  sinee  his  return  from  Fort  SelniyK'r,  was  now,  without 
eonsultati(»n  (tr  even  notice,  w  itlidrawn  from  his  division  l»y 
general  orders.  ''This," says  Sparks,  "  was  sup|)osed  to  liavo 
heen  owin^  to  the  otlioious  interference  of  AV ilk iiison."  ' 

In  liis  oHieial  report  to  Con^resa  of  the  late  hattle,  Gates 
was  so  unjust  that  he  diil  not  mention,  or  even  allude  to 
Ariudd,  nor  to  his  division,  hut  merely  said  the  hattle  was 
fought  hy  "  <h>ta('hments  troui  the  army."  This  was  un- 
manly, unsoldier-like  and  uni,'enerous,  and  as  unjust  to  Ar- 
nold's <;allant  troops  as  to  their  commander.  Arnold 
nat\irally  complained  and  ex})ressed  in  strong  language  his 
sense  of  the  injustice  done  to  his  soldiers.' 

Gates,  knowing  Arnold's  temper,  and  ohviously  seeking 
to  ])rovuke  and  drive  him  from  the  service,  went  so  far  as 
to  say  sneeringly,  he  thought  Arnold  of  little  consequence 
in  the  army;  that  when  (ieneral  Linc(tln  arrived  he  would 
take  away  his  command;  and  that  lie  would  with  all  his 
heart  give  him  a  pass  to  leave  the  army — very  diftercnt 
language  from  that  I'ti  i.sed  Se])t.  2d,  1770,  when  he  was 
urged  to  put  Arnold  in  arrest,  and  replied:  "The  United 
States  must  not  ho  de{)rived  of  that  excellent  officer's  ser- 
vices at  this  iniportant  moment."' 

]jut  as  Gen.  Schuyler  suggests,  Gates  was  now  "so  verv 
sure  of  success  that  ho  did  not  wish  the  othei-  (Arnold)  to 
come  in  for  a  share  of  the  glory  he  may  acquire"  from  a 
\ictory.*     Then  followed  an  angry  correspondence.    Arnold 

1.    sparks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  lU. 

■J.    ArnoUVs  lotter  to  Gates,  Sept.  22,   1777;    Wilkinson's  Memoirs,  Vol.  I,  pp. 

■i.    Ciatosto  the  President  of  Coiiprress,  Am.  Archives,  5th  S.,  Vol.  I,  p.  12C8. 
4.    Schuyler  to  Varick,  Sept.  25, 1777. 

13 


i 


191 


LIFL   OF    BI;XI:DICT    ARNOLD. 


wrote  the  letter  of  Sept.  22m\  Lefore  iiiciitioiied.  Gates  was 
irritatiiii;,  arrogant  {\n(l  vulgar;  Arnold  indiscreet,  luuiglity 
and  ])assi()nate.  (Jates  succeeded  in  ]>rovoking  Ai'n<tld  to 
demand  a  pass  to  Washington,  which  Gates  was  hut  too 
ready  to  give.  When  the  officers  and  scddiers  heanl  what 
was  passing  they  hecaine  excited  nm]  indignant.  "They 
had,"  as  Lossing  says,  "lost  all  contidenco  in  CJatcs,  and 
had  the  highest  opinion  of  Arnold."  ' 

]>y  personal  entreaty,  an<l  in  a  written  address,  Aruftld's 
officers  hegged  h'un  not  to  leave  them,  "for  another  Itattle 
seemed  imminent."  '^ 

"  As  the  enemy  are  honrly  e,\])ected.  General  Arnold 
cannot  think  of  leaving  camp,"  as  Livingston  wrote  to 
Schuyler. 

Arnold  had  asked  a  ]>nss  to  Washington  in  the  heat  of 
passion,  and  he  was  willingly  pers\iaded  to  remain.  On 
the  iirst  of  October  he  had  addresst'd  a  letter  t.>  (iates,  in 
which  he  says:  "Gonscions  of  my  own  imiocency  and 
and  integrity,  I  am  determined  to  sacrifice  my  feel- 
ings and  continue  in  the  army  at  this  critical  junct- 
ure."' IJut  Gates  was  inexorahle:  his  rival  was  now  with- 
out a  conunand,  and  Gates  meant  to  keep  hin»  in  that  con- 
dition, anil  therefore  he  had  not  the  grace  to  restore  him  t(» 
his  former  ])osition,  hut  took  the  division  under  his  own 
chai'ge,  ]dacing  Lincoln  in  command  of  the  right  wing.  A 
(lay  or  two  after  Lincoln's  arrival,  Arnold  still  claiming  to 
commaiul  his  old  division,  observing  Tj'ncoln  giving  some 
•  liivctions  in  regard  to  it,  inquired  if  he  was  doing  so  by 
order  of  General  Gates,  and  IJncoln  replying  in  the  nega- 
ative,  Arnold  observed  that  the  left  division  belonged  to 
him  (Arnold)  and  that  he  believed  that  Lincoln's  ])roj)er 

1.  I.ossing's  Llfeof  Schuyler,  Vol.  II,  j\.  a,"l. 

2.  l.ossiiin's  Life  of  SchuyU'r,  Vol.  11.  y.  M.'.l. 

a.    Letter  to  Gales,  Oct.  l,  1777.    Wilkinson's  Memoirs,  Vol.  1,  pp.  203  2C0. 


s^ 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


195 


Btatioii  was  on  the  riijjlit,  and  tliat  of  Gates  oviglit  to  be  the 
center.'  "  Arnold  reipiested  Lincoln  to  vientior  this  to 
Gates  and  have  it  adjnsted."  Lincohi  wisely  ponijht  to 
reconcile  their  ditlerences,  but  withont  sncce^s.  "Arnold 
is  detenu ini'd,''  says  A'arick.  "not  tosntVer  any  man  t(»  in- 
terfere in  his  division,  anti  says  it  will  he  death  to  any 
otKcer  in  actit»n."  '' 

He  renniined  in  eanip,  reccivins^  the  syni]>athy  of  his 
brother  officers,  but  never  consulted.  Gates  did  not  issue  a 
tbrnial  order,  deprivini;  hiiu  of  conunan<l,  but  i<?nored  him. 

!^[eanwhile  two  thousand  troops,  lately  under  Lincoln, 
had  arrived  in  camp,  and  the  gates  to  Canada  were  being 
shut  against  the  J»ritish  retreat;  the  bridges  in  their  rear 
were  being  destroyed  by  the  Americans,  and  the  toils  were 
closing  around  I>urgoyne.  lie  looked  anxiously  towards 
Xew  York  for  a  diversion  in  his  favor  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 
Provisions  were  growing  scarce,  and  his  troops,  constantly 
luirrassed  by  skirmishes,  were  now  ]iui  on  short  ullowance. 
Burgoyne  fortitied  his  camp,  and  the  American  militia  came 
llocking  in  to  take  a  luuul  in  the  capture  of  the  Jb'itish 
army,  now  regarded  as  morally  certain.  Its  Irader  realized 
that  he  must  light  or  fly,  and  that  without  delay.  In  the 
early  days  of  October  the  question  of  a  ra])id  retreat,  oi-  a 
via-orous  attack,  was  mucli  considered  and  discussed  by  the 
Jiritisli  officers.  Burirovne,  in  the  bcifinnino:  of  the  cam- 
paign,  proud  and  sanguine  of  success,  had  in  his  proclama- 
tion said:  "This  army  must  never  retreat  I"  Xow  an 
escape  by  retreat  would  have  been  a  relief  to  his  anxiety. 
J'hilips  i)roposed  to  malce  a  rapid,  circuitous  march  and 
fall  upon  the  American  left.  Jiiedesel  advised  a  retreat  to 
Fort  Edward.     Fraser  was  readv  and  williuir  to  liirlit. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  October,  it  was  decided  to 

1.    Ii'ving's  Life  of  Wft.shinjtfnn  Vdl,  III.  ip.  JIO. 
•J.    Vuric'k  to  Schuyler.    Sclniylor  luipurs, 


19G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


inalvC  proparations  fur  battle,  and  that  a  reconnolssancc  in 
force  slioulil  be  executed,  and  if  there  slionld  be  found  an 
opj)ortunity  for  an  attack,  ^vith  reasonable  prospects  of 
success,  it  should  be  given;  if  otherwise,  preparations  to 
retreat  should  be  made. 

At  10  A.  ]\[.,  ]}ur<jjo}'ne,  aided  by  Philips,  lliedesel  and 
Fraser,  led  1,500  picked  men  to  hi<^h  ground,  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  to  the  west  of  the  American  line,  and  behind  a 
screen  of  dense  forests  formed  his  line  of  battle.  At  the 
same  time  he  despatched  a  party  of  five  hundred  rangers, 
loyalists  and  Indians,  to  steal  through  the  forests  and  attack 
the  rear  of  the  left  of  the  Americans,  while  he  should  attack 
their  front  and  flank.  The  movements  of  the  British  were 
fpiickly  discovered.  The  American  center  beat  to  arms, 
and  the  whole  army  prepared  for  battle.  "  Order  out 
Morgan  to  begin  the  game,"  said  Gates.  At  Morgan's 
suggestion  he  was  directed  to  take  possession  of  the  heights 
to  the  ri<::ht  of  the  enemv.  General  Poor  with  his  brigade, 
and  a  part  of  Scamtnels,  were  sent  against  the  left  of  the 
British  line  ;  meanwhile  the  party  of  rangers,  loyalists  and 
Indians  had  gained  the  rear  of  the  Americans,  driven  in 
the  pickets,  and  being  joined  by  the  grenadiers,  drove  the 
Americans  within  their  lines;  here  they  rallied,  and 
being  joined  l)y  ^forgan  and  his  litlemen,  they  in  tui-ii 
<irove  the  British  to  the  main  line  of  battle  now 
being  formed,  consisting  of  grenadiers  under  Major  Ack- 
land,  Avith  artillery  under  Major  "Williams  on  the  left; 
the  center  was  composed  of  the  Germans  under 
Piedesel,  and  British  under  Philips,  while  the  light 
infantry  under  Earl  Balcarras  formed  the  extreme  left. 
General  Fraser,  with  five  hundred  ])icked  men,  was  placed 
in  advance  of  tho  right,  ready  to  attack  the  Americans  in  the 
flank  when  the  action  should  begin.  It  was  now  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  and  Morgan,  as  has  been  stated,  at  his  own 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


197 


snnjgcstion,  was  scut  with  liis  riflemen  to  take  possession  of 
some  liijjjh  ground  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  enemy,  to 
watcli  and  attack  Frascr  at  the  moment  when  an  attack 
should  be  made  on  tlie  Britisli  left  by  Poor's  brigade  and  a 
part  of  Learned's.  At  half  i)ast  two  the  battle  began.  The 
troops  of  Poor  and  Learned  marched  up  the  slo])e  to  attack 
the  grenadiers  and  the  artillery  under  Ackland  and  Wil- 
liams, and  with  orders  n(»t  to  open  fire  until  after  the  first 
discharge  of  the  enein}'.  Silently  and  steadily  they  marched 
forward,  and  were  recived  by  a  discharge  of  musket  balls 
and  grape  shot,  which  passed  over  their  heads  into  the 
branches  of  the  trees.  Instantly,  with  a  shout,  they  rushed 
forward  and  delivered  their  fire.  Then  followed  a  fierce 
assault  and  conflict.  The  Americans  charged  np  to  the 
very  mouths,  and  among  the  cannon,  and  were  met  with 
a  stubborn  resistance.  Cannon  were  taken  and  re-taken ; 
one  of  the  flold-pieces  was  captured  ami  re-captured  fuur 
times,  nntil  Anally  Colonel  Cilley,  who  led  his  regiment, 
leaped  upon  the  captured  gun,  and  waving  his  sword,  dedi- 
cated it  to  the  patriot  cause,  and  whirling  it  towards 
the  enemy,  discharged  it  upon  them;  the  act  was  dramatic, 
and  the  effect  electric.  Finally,  after  a  terrible  struggle,  and 
when  Major  Ackland  was  severely  wounded  and  "Williams 
taken  prisoner,  the  grenadiers  and  artillery  fled,  and  the 
Americans  held  the  field.  AV^hile  the  battle  was  ra<;inir  on 
the  right  Morgan  led  the  attack  upon  Fraser  and  drove  him 
hack  within  the  British  lines;  then  falling  upon  their  right 
flank,  he  broke  their  lines  and  ])ut  them  to  confusion. 
Dearborn  with  fresh  troops  attacked  their  front,  which  was 
broken,  but  rallied  and  made  a  stand  under  the  Karl  of 
JIalcarras.  The  center  of  tlu>  Ih'itish  still  held  their  irround. 
And  now  Arnold  on  his  black  horse  was  seen  aj)})roaching 
at  full  speed.  Chaflng  in  his  tent,  he  had  early  heard  the 
sounds  of  the  conflict,  and  no  stag-hound  chained  in   liis 


h    li 


198 


LIFE   or   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


kennel,  when  he  liears  the  music  of  the  pursuit,  was  ever 
more  eager  to  join  the  chase  than  was  Arnold  to  join  his 
comrades  in  the  field.  "  Xo  nuvn,"  exclaimed  he  to  his  aids, 
''shall  keep  me  in  mj  tent  tu-dav.  If  I  am  without  com- 
mand, I  will  fiy^lit  in  the  ranks:  but  the  soldiers,  (iod  bless 
them,  will  follow  my  lead.  Come  on,"  said  he,  "  victory  or 
death!"  and  leaping  into  his  saddle  he  plunged  into  the 
thickest  of  the  fight,  and  the  S(jldicrs  welcomed  their  old 
and  beloved  connnander  with  shouts  and  cheers,  which  rose 
above  the  din  and  roar  of  the  conliict,'  His  gallant,  thor- 
ough-bred horse  bounded  over  the  field  with  a  motion  as 
elastic  and  nearly  as  ra[)id  as  the  deer  springs  from  the 
hound-^.  Arnold  was  a  splendid  rider,  and  the  martial 
spirit  which  animated  him,  and  the  magnetism  of  the  rush- 
ing, powerful  animal  beneath  him,  thrilled  his  whole  frame 
almost  to  frenzy  as  he  dashed  through  the  storm  of  smoke 
and  fire  and  lead." 

"Fast,  fast,  with  liools'  wild  spurniiipr, 
Thi^  (lark  brown  cliarycr  sped; 

lie  burst  tlirouj,''h  ranks  of  fig^hting  men; 
He  sprang  o'er  heaps  of  dead." 

"Gpnoral  Arnold,"  says  Lossing,  "had  watched  with  enger  eye 
and  excited  spirit  the  course  of  the  battle  thus  far.  Deprived 
of  all  command,  he  had  no  authority  even  to  fnht,  much  less 
to  order.  Smarting  imder  the  indignity  heaped  upon  hiiu  by  his 
commander,  tliirsting  for  that  glory  which  beckoned  him  to  the 
tield,  burning  with  a  patriotic  desire  to  serve  his  coimtry,  now 
bleeding  at  every  pore,  and  stirred  by  the  din  of  battle  around  him, 

1.  He  enjoys  Uio  confidence  and  affection  of  officers  and  soldiers.  Tlieywoul.l 
to  a  man  follow  him  to  victory  or  death.  '—Livingston  L'Jtcr  quoted. 

2.  lUs  conduct  recalls  Scott's  fine  description  of  Marmion,  in  tlie  battle  of  Fiod- 

den  Field: 

"  Like  a  thunderbolt, 

"First  in  the  vauKuard  made  a  halt, 
When  such  a  shout  there  rose 
Of  '  Marmion  !  Marmion  ! '    Miat  tlie  cry 
Up  Fiodden  mountains  shrilling  liigli, 
Startled  the  Scotish  foes." 

—Can'o  VI. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


190 


tlie  brave  soldier  became  fairly  maiMened  by  liis  emntioiis,  anil  leapinjr 
upon  his  lar^je  brown  horse,  ho  started  oti'  on  a  full  <,n!Uop  for  the  field 
of  confliot.  Gates  immediately  sent  Major  Armstroii},' alter  him  to  order 
liini  ba<'k.  Arnold  saw  him  apviroaehinj^,  and  aiitieiiiatiiiy  his  errand, 
spurred  his  horse  and  left  his  pursuer  far  behind,  while  he  i>laocd  him- 
self at  the  head  of  the  regiments  of  Learned's  brifjade,  who  received 
their  former  commander  with  loud  huzzas..  IIo  imniedia  ely  led  them 
against  tlie  British  center,  iind  with  the  desperation  of  a  mndman,  rushed 
into  the  thickest  of  the  fiffht,  or  rode  along  the  lines  in  rapid  and  erratic 
movements,  brandishiii;,'  his  broad -swcrd  above  his  head,  and  deliveriuf,' 
his  orders  everywhere  in  person.  Arnistroiij^  ki'pt  u[)  tiie  ciiase  fia*  halt 
an  hour,  but  Arnold's  course  was  so  varied  and  perilous  that  ho  gave 
it  u)). 

"  Tlie  Hessians  received  the  fir^t  as;^ault  of  Arnold's  tro' i)s  upon  the 
Ihitish  center  with  a  brave  resistance;  but  when,  upon  a  second  chnrge. 
he  dashed  furiously  among  them  at  tin;  head  of  his  men,  they  broke  and 
tied  in  dismay.  And  now  the  battle  liecamo  geneial  along  the  whole 
lines.  Arnold  and  Morgan  were  the  ruling  spirits  that  controlled  the 
storm  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  and  the  gallant  (iem'ral  Fraser  was 
the  directing  soul  of  the  British  troops  in  action.  His  skill  and  courage 
were  everywhere  conspicuous.  When  the  lines  gave  way,  he  brought 
order  out  of  confusion;  when  regiments  began  to  waver,  he  infused 
courage  into  them  by  voice  and  example.  He  was  momifed  upon  a 
si)lendid  iron-gray  gelding,  and,  dressed  in  the  lull  uniform  of  a  field 
otKcer,  he  was  a  conspicuous  object  for  the  Americans.  It  was  evident 
that  the  fate  of  the  battle  rested  upon  him,  and  this  the  keen  eye  and 
sure  judgment  of  Morgan  perceived.  In  an  instant  his  purpose  was  con- 
ceived, and  calling  a  file  of  his  best  m  n  around  him,  he  said,  as  he 
pointed  toward  the  British  right,  /I'liat  gallant  oHic^r  is  General  Fraser. 
I  admire  and  honor  hini,  but  it  is  necess.iry  he  shoulil  die;  victory  for 
the  enemy  depends  upon  him.  Take  your  stations  in  that  clump  of 
bushes,  and  do  your  duty.' '  )  Within  tivo  minutes  Fraser  fell  mortally 
wounded,  ami  was  carried  to  the  camp  by  two  gn'uadiers.  Just  jirevious 
to  being  hit  by  the  fatal  bullet,  the  crupper  of  his  !:or<e  was  cut  by  a 
rifle  ball,  and  immediately  afterward  another  passed  through  the  horse's 
mane,  a  little  back  of  his  ears. 

•'  I'he  aid  of  Fraser  noticed  this  and  .said,  '  It  is  evident  that  you  are 
marked  out  for  particular  aim;  would  it  not  be  ]>nulent  for  you  to  retire 
from  this  placed  '  Fraser  replied.  '  .My  duty  forbids  me  to  fly  irom  dan- 
ger,' and  the  next  moment  he  fell." 


1.    Lossinp's  Field  Book  of  tlie  Itevolutioii,  Vol.  I.  \>\^.  Gl-2;  also  Life  of  Sclnijler. 

Vol.11,  p.  aco. 


I 


200 


LIFE    OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


In  regard  to  tlio  death  of  Gen.  Fraser,  it  5s  proper  t<> 
state  that  Samuel  "Woodruff,  of  Windsor,  Connecticut,  a  sar- 
geant  in  the  American  arm}-,  and  a  ]tarti('i|»at()r  in  the 
battle,  gives  the  following  accuunt  of  the  death  of  that  gal- 
lant othcer  : 

"  Soon  after  the  coniiiioncomcnt  of  tlic  action,  Gon.  Aniold,  knowinjr 
the  military  character  and  efficiency  of  Gen.  Fraser,  and  observing  his 
motions  in  leading  and  conducling' the  attiici<,  said  to  Colonel  ^forfjiin, 
'that  officer  npon  the  i?ray  liorse  is  of  himself  a  host,  and  must  be  dis- 
josed  of ;  direct  the  attention  of  some  of  the  sliarpshooters  among  your 
riflemen,  to  him."  Morgan  nodded  his  assent,  repaired  to  his  riflemen, 
and  made  known  to  them  the  hint  given  by  ArnoKl.  Immediately  upon 
this  the  crupper  of  the  gray  horse  wixs  cut  by  a  riflo  ball,'  and  soon 
Fraser  received  his  mortal  wound." 

This  statement  is  corroborated  by  Neilson.' 
This  account  does  not,  it  will  be  observed,  conflict  with 
the  statement  in  regard  to  jVI organ,  but  only  adds,  that  the 
cruel,  but  ])erhaps  in  a  military  ]X)int  of  view,  important 
suiTirt'stion,  originated  with  Arnold.  It  is  difficiilt  not  to 
condemn  this  order.  The  impulse  of  every  generous  heart 
is,  that  the  gallant  scddier  should  have  the  chance  of  escape 
willi  »ut  being  singled  out  for  death.  But  the  American 
officers  were  lighting  for  tlieir  country.  Arnold  and  Mor- 
gan believed  the  death  of  Fraser  was  necessary,  and  there- 
fore gave  the  iatal  order.  "When  Fraser  fell,  a  panic  seized 
tlie  Uritish,  and  the  wliole  line  gave  way  and  fled  behind 
their  entrenchments.  The  Americans  followed,  and,  I  again 
(^uote  from  the  Field  Book  of  the  lievolution: 

"The  conflict  was  now  terrible  indeed,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  flame, 
and  smoke,  and  metal  hail,  Arnold  was  conspicuous.  His  voice,  clear  as 
a  trumpet,  animated  the  soldiers,  and  as  if  ubiquitous,  h(!  seemed  to  be 
everywhere  amid  the  perils  at  the  same  moment.  With  a  part  of  the 
brigades  of  I'atterson  and  Glover,  he  assaulted  the  works  occuiiied 
by  the  light  infantry  under  Earl  Balcarras,  and   at  the  point  of  the 

1.  Stone's  Cnmpaign  of  General  Burgnyne,  pp.  324  Sir.. 

2.  "  Morgan,  n<  thr  svfjprstion  of  Aniolil^Umk  a  few  of  his  riflomon  nsidc,"  nml 
piivc  tliem  the  order  to  jiick  off  Fruter  as  st.Ueil.— iyH/v/oiii. >  t'ump(i/(/;,s,  by 
CharUs  Acitson. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


201 


bfiyonot  drove  the  enemy  from  a  strong  ahntis,  through  which  he  at- 
temptf'd  to  force  his  way  into  the  camp.  He  was  obliged  to  abandon 
the  ott'ort,  and  dashing  forward  toward  the  riglit  flank  of  the  enemy,  ex- 
posed to  the  cro.-8-fire  of  tlie  contending  armies,'  lie  met  Learned's  brig- 
ade advancing  to  make  an  assault  up  m  the  British  works  at  an  open- 
ing in  the  ahotis,  between  Halearras'  light  infantry  and  the  German  right 
fliink  defense  iimler  Colonel  Breyman.  Canadians  and  loyaliatft  defended 
this  part  of  tlie  line,  and  were  flanked  by  a  stockade  redoubt  on  cacii 
side. 

"Arnold  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  tlie  brigade,  and  moved  rap- 
idly on  to  the  attack.  He  directed  Colonel  Brooks  to  assault  the  re<loubt, 
while  the  remaiiidiT  of  the  brigade  fell  upon  the  front.  The  contest  was 
furious,  and  the  enemy  at  length  gave  way,  l>'aving  lireyman  and  his 
(ieruians  completely  exposed.  At  this  moment  Arn  Jd  galloped  to  the 
left  and  ordered  the  regiments  of  Wesson  and  Livingston  and  Morgan's 
cori^s  of  riflemen  to  advanct!  and  make  a  general  assault.  At  the  head 
of  Brooks'  regiment,  he  attacked  the  Ciernian  works.  Having  found  the 
sally-port,  he  rushed  within  the  enemy's  intrenchments.  The  tiermans, 
who  had  seen  him  upon  his  steed  in  the  thickest  of  the  tight  for  more 
than  two  hours,  terrified  at  his  approach,  fled  in  dismay,  delivering  a 
volley  in  their  retreat  which  killed  Arnold's  horse  under  him  and 
wounded  the  General  himself  very  severely  in  the  same  leg  which  had 
been  badly  lacerated  by  a  musket  ball  at  the  storming  of  Quebec,  two 
years  before. 

"Here,  wounded  and  disabled,  at  the  head  of  conquering  troops  led 
on  by  his  valor  to  the  threshold  ot  victory,  Arnold  was  overtaken  by  Ma- 
jor Armstrong,  who  delivered  to  him  Gates'  order  to  return  to  camp, 
fearing  he  '  miyht  do  some  rash  thing! '  He  indeed  did  a  rash  thing  in 
the  eye  of  military  discipline.  He  led  troo])s  to  victory  without  an  order 
from  his  commander.  His  conduct  was  rash,  indeed,  compared  with  the 
stately  method  of  General  Gates,  who  directed  by  orders  from  his  camp 
what  his  presence  should  have  sanctioned.  While  Arnold  was  wielding 
the  fierce  sickle  of  war  without,  and  reaping  golden  sheaves  for  Gates' 
garner,  the  latter  (according  to  Wilkinson)  was  within  his  camp,  more 
intent  upon  discussing  the  merits  of  the  Revolution  with  Sir  Francis 
Clark,  Burgoyne's  aid-de-camp,  who  had  l)een  wounded  and  taken  pris- 
(iner,  and  was  lying  upon  the  commander's  bed  at  his  quarters,  than  upon 
winning  a  battle  all-important  to  the  ultimate  triumph  of  those  princi- 
ples for  which  he  professed  so  warm  an  attachment.  When  one  of  Gates' 
aids  came  up  from  the  field  of  battle  for  orders,  he  found  the  General  very 

1.  Wilkinson  snys :  "Tills  would  have  been  deomed  inoredible  if  Gcu.  Scott 
had  not  perl'onuud  the  same  'mad  prank'  at  Luudy's  Lane." 


;p; 


202 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


' 


annrry  because  Sir  Frjincis  would  not  allow  the  forco  of  his  arffuments. 
He  left  the  room,  and,  calling;  his  aid  after  him,  asked  as  they  went  out, 
'Did  you  ever  hear  so  ynpudent  a  son  of  a  b — h?'  Poor  Sir  Francis 
died  that  ni^'ht  upon  Gates'  bed. 

"  It  is  a  curious  fact,"  says  Sparks,  "that  an  officer  who  really  had 
not  command  in  the  army,  was  1  he  leader  of  one  of  the  most  spirited 
and  important  battles  of  the  Revolution.  His  madne.ws  or  rashness,  or 
whatever  it  may  lie  called,  resulted  most  fortunately  for  hiius(;lf.  The 
wound  he  received  at  the  moment  of  rushintj  into  the  arms  of  dnufrer 
and  of  death,  added  fresh  lustre  to  his  military  glory,  and  was  a  new 
claim  to  public  favor  and  applause."  ' 

The  following  is  the  account  of  Arnold's  conduct  in  the 
action,  given  by  General  Carriugton  in  his  "  JjuLtles  of  the 
American  Ilevolution." 

"  At  this  stage  of  the  battle,  Arnold,  no  longer  under  self-control, 
burst  from  the  camp,  and,  like  a  meteor,  rode  to  the  front  of  Learned's 
brigade,  which  had  been  so  recently  imder  his  conimiiTul,  and  dashed 
into  the  fight.  He  was  cheered  as  he  rode  past,  and  like  a  whirlwind 
the  regiments  went  with  him  upon  the  broken  British  lines  Fraser  fell 
mortally  wounded  in  this  assault,  and  swiftly  behind  ihe  half  crazy  vol- 
unteer came  Tenbroeck  with  a  force  nearly  double  that  of  the  whole 
British  line.  That  line  was  now  in  full  retreat.  I'hillips  and  Kiedesel, 
as  well  as  Burgoyn",  who  took  command  in  person,  exhibited  marvelous 
courage  in  an  ho\u-  so  jicrilous.  and  withdrew  the  troops  with  creditable 
self-possession  and  skill,  but  nothing  could  stop  Arnold.  Wherever  he 
found  troops  he  assumed  command,  and  by  the  magnetism  of  his  will 
and  passion,  he  became  supreme  in  daring  endeavor.  With  a  part  of 
the  brigades  of  Patterson  and  (Jlover,  he  assaulted  the  intrenihments  of 
Earl  Balcarras,  but  was  repulsed.  To  the  right  of  Karl  Halearras,  the 
Canadians  and  Koyalists  were  posted  under  cover  of  two  stockade  re- 
doubts. Arnold  here  again  met  Learned's  brigade,  took  the  lead,  and 
with  a  single  charge  cleared  these  works,  leaving  the  h^ft  of  Breyman's 
position  entirely  exposed.  Without  waiting  for  the  result  of  the  further 
attack  at  this  point,  he  lode  directly  in  front  of  Breyman's  intrench- 
mens  under  fire,  and  meeting  the  regiments  of  Wesson  and  Livingston 
and  Morgan's  rifle  corps,  which  had  made  the  entire  compass  of  the 
British  right,  he  ordered  them  forward,  and  then  riding  on  with  a  jior- 
tion  of  Brooks'  regiment  which  joined  at  that  moment,  he  turned  the  in- 
trenchments  of  Breyman,  entered  the  sally-port  and  was  shot,  with  his 
horse,  as  the  victory  was  achieved."  ^ 

1.  Lossinu  3  Field  Book  of  the  Rcvolntif.n,  Vol.  I,  p.  C>^. 

2.  Carrinatou's  Battles  of  the  Ameiicnn  Kevoluiidii,  p.  :i-l8. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS    TREASON. 


203 


Sparks,  ])erl»ai)8   the    most   careful    of  all  writers  uixm 

Itevolutioiiary  history,  and  wlio  is  never  extravagant  in  his 

language,  says: 

"The  brilliimt  mauoeuvit'  with  which  Iho  cnpngi'iiu'rit  w.ts  flosod,  the 
assault  of  the  enemy 'm  works,  and  drivinj,'  the  Hessians  from  their  er- 
eanipnient,  was  uniloiihteiUy  owiny  in  the  Hist  ease  to  Aiiiold.  lie  j^ave 
the  order,  and  by  his  pentotial  bravery  set  an  example  to  tlie  trooj^s 
which  inspired  them  with  ardor,  an<l  imrrii'd  thcni  forward.  lb'  was  shot 
through  the  leg  while  ritling  yallantiy  into  tiic  sall.y-pott,  and  his  horsi' 
fell  dead  under  him.  The  succ(.'ss  of  the  assault  was  complete,  and 
crowned  the  day  with  victory."  ' 

"Gates  was  not  on  the  field,  nor  indeed  did  he  leave 
his  eneain})inent  during  either  of  the  hatties  of  I'eniis' 
II 


eights. 


There  is  Ijttle  douht  that  Arnold  went  to  the  held  on  this 
day  reckless  of  his  life,  and  i)erhai)s  intending  to  seek  death 
by  the  most  hazardous  e.\])osure,  but  he  meant  to  die  victo- 
rious, and  death  at  the  moment  of  victory  w*)uld  have  been 
welcome.  AVhen  on  the  morning  of  the  twentv-tirst  of 
August,  he  started  from  German  Flats  to  march  across  the 
l>loody  field  of  Oriskany  to  relieve  Fort  Schuyler,  expecting 
to  meet  a  superior  force,  he  says  :  "  You  will  liear  of  my 
being  victorious,  or — )io  itiore!^ 

His  conduct  on  the  field  the  seventh  of  October,  sliows 
that  his  excitement  amounted  almost  to  frenzy.  During 
the  progress  of  the  battle,  M-ishing  to  pass  ra])idly  from  the 
right  to  the  left,  "he  dashed  through  the  lire  of  the  two 
lines,  and  escaped  niduirt."^ 

It  is  said  by  AV^ilkinson,  that  while  encoui'aging  his  troops, 
Arnold,  in  a  state  of  furious  distraction,  struck  an  ofHcer 
with  his  sword,  "believed  to  be  Captain  La  11,  of  Dearborn's 
infantr}'."     Sparks,  alluding  to  the  incident,  says  when  the 

1.  Sparks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  lis, 

2.  Spnrks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  ll'.>. 

;i.    Gates'  Tapers.    Letter  from  Arnold  to  Gates,  Aug.  21,  1777.    MSS. 
1.    Wilkinson's  Memoirs,  Vol.  L  P-  '-7.!. 


204 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


!l 


officer,  on  the  following  day,  "demanded  redress,  Arnold 
declared  liis  entire  ignorance  of  tlie  act  and  expressed  his 
regret."  ' 

Foster,  of  New  London,  late  a  Senator  of  the  United 
States  from  Connecticut,  at  the  Centennial  celebration  of 
this  battle,  on  the  7th  of  October,  1877,  relates  an  interest- 
ing incident  in  relation  to  Arnold.  Senator  Foster's  father 
was  adjutant  of  a  Connecticut  regiment  made  up  in  part  of 
recruits  from  New  London  and  Norwich,  Arnold's  birth- 
])lace.  lie  says:  "The  earliest  recollection  of  my  boyhood 
was  sitting  on  my  father's  knee  and  listening  to  the  stories 
of  the  march,  the  camj)  and  the  battle-Held.  I  well  recol- 
lect hearing  my  father  say  that  Arnold  came  dashing  along 
the  line,  the  speed  at  which  he  rode  leaving  his  aid  far 
behind  him,  and  as  he  came  up  to  my  father's  regiment  he 
called  out,  'Whose  regiment  is  this?'  My  father  replied: 
'Colonel  Latimer's,  sir.'  'Ah!'  said  Arnold,  'my  old 
Norwich  and  New  London  friends.  God  bless  you!  I  am 
glad  to  see  you.  Now  come  on,  boys;  if  the  day  is  long 
enough,  we'll  have  them  all  in  hell  before  night.'  General 
Arnold  was  a  native  of  Norwich,  and  was  born  within  fifty 
yards  of  my  house  in  that  town."' 

As  Arnold's  horse  fell  under  him,  and  he  received  a  shot 
through  his  thigh,  breaking  the  bone,  he  cried  to  his  sol- 

1.  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  118.  It  hns  been  sugRCStcd  Uiat  in  tlic  fury  and  frenzy  of  his 
ck'spcriite  eliarge,  that  tliis  blow  mny  have  been  accidental. 

2  Manuscript  letters  from  Senator  Foster  (o  the  authur,  dated  Oct.  27th,  1777: 
"  The  Daily  Saratoffiuu,  which  I  enclose,  contains  a  pretty  full  statement  of  what  I 
have  heard  my  father  say  of  General  Arnold's  conduct  on  the  battle-field.  I  recol- 
lect further  hearing  my  father  speak  of  Arnold's  impatience  and  fretfulness  with 
the  surgeon,  who  on  looking  hastily  at  his  wounded  leg,  cxpres  ed  .'iome  appre- 
liension  that  amputation  might  be  necessary.  *  *  •  He  led  the  party  that 
.stormed  Burgoyne's  camp,  after  his  men  fell  buck  to  it ;  although  it  was  not  taken. 
He  certainly  inspired  the  men  with  a  large  jiorlion  of  his  own  inipctuousity,  for 
they  rushed  on  to  the  assault  with  shouts  and  cheers  and  yells ;  so  1  have  heard 
my  father  and  uncle  both  say. 

"  Very  truly  your  friend,  etc., 

"  L.  F.  S.  Foster." 


ins    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


205 


(licrs,  "linsh  on,  my  brave  boys,  riisb  on!"*  Accord iii^ 
to  a  statement  of  Nicbohis  Stoner,  Arnold  was  shot  bv  a 
wounded  German  private.  An  American  soldier,  seeing 
bis  General  fall,  rus-'lied  forwai'd  and  was  about  to  run  tbe 
wounded  German  tliroui,di  witb  bis  bayonet,  but  Arnold, 
tbougb  prostrate  and  blcediuir,  seein<jj  that  the  soldier  was 
bel})less,  cried,  "  Don't  burt  him,  be  did  but  bis  duty  ;  be  is 
a  fine  fellow!  " '  Tbus  be  saved  tbe  life  of  this  soldier  wbo 
bad  just  sbot  him.  This,  Stone  justly  cbaracterizes  as  an  act 
of  "  true  cbivalry." '  lie  who  could  tbus  save  tbe  life  of  a 
belpless  enemy,  while  writbin<;  from  a  wound  just  inflicted 
by  that  enemy,  could  not  bave  been  wantinjjj  in  generosity. 
This  was  tbebour  for  Benedict  Arnold  to  have  died!  Had 
be  been  so  fortuiuite  as  to  bave  died  of  tbe  wound  received 
at  tbe  moment  of  victory,  and  immediately  following  an 
act  of  cbi'alry,  of  whicb  I  can  recall  no  ])urullel,  few  sol- 
diers in  American  liistory  would  bave  acbieved  a  prouder 
fame.  Arnobl  was  inounted  on  this  day,  upon  a  beautiful 
dark  horse  named  "  Warre!i,"  after  his  old  friend,  the  bero 
and  "martyr"  of  Bunker  Hill.*  Wilkinson  says,  '•  It  may 
be  remembered  by  several  who  now  live  that  Arnold  rode 
on  tbat  day  a  black  or  dark  brown  horse,  *  *  *  and  1 
well  recollect  observing  tbe  bodv  of  the  borse  tbe  morninir 
after,  in  tbe  rear  of  tbe  German  encampment."  * 

1.  Letter  of  E.  Matto  ',  quoted  in  Stone's  Campaign  of  Gen.  John  Burgoyne, 
p.  .175. 

•2.    Stone's  Campaign  of  Burgoyne.  p.  CO. 

'A.  "  A  private  by  tlie  name  of  Jolin  Ueilman,  seeing  his  ficncral  wnnndod.  ran 
up  tobiiyonet  the  offender,  but  was  i)revented  by  Arnold,  wlio,  witli  true  chivalry, 
exclaimed, '  He  is  a  fine  feliow-do  not  hurt  him.'  This  was  told,  in  1.S4S,  to  I.  K. 
Simons,  by  Nicholas  Stoner,  tlie  celebrated  .<cout,  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  tlio 
circumstance."— .S7onc's  Burg'.ync's  Campai(jn,  p.  60. 

4.    Hea<llcy's  Washington  and  his  Generals,  p.  183. 

.').    WillJinson's  Jfemoirs,  Vol.  I,  p.  274. 

There  is  a  conflict  in  tlie  .stiUomcuts  by  Col.  Willclnson  and  Major  Lewis,  in 
regard  to  the  horse  wliich  Arnold  rode  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga.  Wilkinson,  as  wo 
luive  fHKitcd,  says  tlie  one  rode  on  the  7th  of  October  was  a  black  horse,  belonging 
to  Leonard  Chester;  and  Lewis,  as  (juotud  by  Mr.  Sparks,  states  the  animal  was  a 


':( 


2(J0 


LIFF,   OF    nFNKOICT    ARNOLD. 


The  British  oMicorrt  kiUed  mciv  (\)1oii(»1  ]?i'ovinnn,  Sir 
I'nuicis  Chirke  mid  tho  ^alhiiit  iiiul  himenti'd  (JentM'al  Fra- 
HtT.  I»ur<i;oyne  liimst'lf  had  u  very  narrow  escape,  two  rifie 
halls  passing  through  his  clothes;  while  of  the  Ainericaiis, 


f 


licntitlfiil  Ppfinlsli  linrsc,  whloh  had  bolnriRcd  to  Gov.  Skono,  >iut  now  wns  tlie  prop- 
erty of  ('i)l.  I.owls,  niicl  liorriiwt'il  for  tlio  (iccnsloii.  Wilkinson  ^nys  ]w  saw  the 
liorsi'  tli(^  next  duy  dcud,  iind  Is  ]irf)*>nl)ly  currect.  How  Arnold  cainc  to  rldo  a  l)or 
rowed  liorse  is  exjilulncMl  in  tlie  foDowini?  note  from  Arnold  to  Colonel  I.nnib: 
"  My  sister  writes  me  she  sent  one  of  my  lior^es  to  I'eekskill,  aljout  J'ltli  of  July,  to 
lip  forwanled  to  mc,  and  that  she  intended  seiulliiK  another  the  last  of  July.  I  have 
rei'eived  neither,  and  hoR  flie  favor  of  ("ol.  Oswald  to  make  iiKiulries  for  tliem.  nn 
lie  knows  the  horses,— tlie  one  a  sorrel  stallion,  anil  the  other  a  sorrel  mare.  I  wish 
Idm,  'f  they  can  he  found,  to  send  them  to  Albany,  to  the  Oept.  Quartermaster- 
General. 
— *e  Li/e  of  Lamb  p.  1"'.».  "  Yours,  B.  A." 

Arnold,  it  is  said,  pnvo  an  order  to  T.owis  on  the  Quarternnister  for  the  mare.  In 
place  of  the  one  shot,  and  it  is  said  none  was  there.  Ii  is  not  iiii|irohalile  the  above 
note  will  ex|>lain  this  order  consisteMlly  wiili  his  inteu'riiy,  aiul  if  so,  show  liow 
liahle  all  iiersoiis  are  to  do  injustice  wlio  hear  only  one  side  of  a  case,  without  ex- 
planation. 

It  is  quite  clear  that  previous  to  his  treason,  while  Arnold  had  enemies,  hl.s 
friends  were  as  warm  and  devoted  as  his  enemies  were  hitter.  Amonj?  the  former 
vva.s  (iencral  I.nmh,  who  afterwards,  while  eondemnin'.,'  liis  treason  with  the  nlinost 
severity,  woiilti  never  suHer  the  reputation  of  Arnold  as  a  soldier  to  be  <inestloned, 
or  his  courage  and  conduct  on  the  fleid  impeached  without  <lofendinR  both, 

"Some  years  afterwards,  when  dining  at  rutnam'.s  licad'iuarters,  in  company 
with  one  of  (iates'  hrifiadiers  who  had  served  at  Saratoga,  the  niune  of  Arnold  wa.s 
iutvoiUnx'i],  whvn  '  ciiii/uaion  to  tlir  trailiir'  wis  drank  with  tirciit  nnanimily.  And 
when  his  demerits  Inid  hten  freely  disenssed.  Colonel  l.atnb  remarked  that  it  was  a 
jilty  so  Rood  a  soldier,  and  a  man  of  sneh  consummate  courage  sliould  become  so 
despicable  a  villain." 

"  'Consummate  cotirago,  sir ! '  said  Gen.  0.:  '  where  has  he  ever  exhibited  any  proof 
f)f  such  qmility?'  'Sir,'  said  Col.  Lamh.  'you  astonish  me  by  the  question.  In  my 
judgment,  it  would  be  more  ditllciUt  to  point  out  an  instance  where  he  has  not 
Riven  ample  evidence  of  bravery,  than  to  enumerate  th(-  instances  of  his  intre- 
jiidity.  I  was  with  him  at  the  storminp  of  Quebec,  and  at  the  battle  of  Coinpo;  and 
am  somewhat  qmUilled  tojinlRc;  and  if  these  exploits  are  not  sutlieient,  the  buttle 
of  the  7th  t)et.,  in  1777,  and  the  stormiuR  of  the  German  intrenchments,  would 
add  strenRth  to  my  testimony.'  '  Pshaw  !  Sir,'  was  the  rejoinder; '  mere  Dutch  conr- 
aRo;  He  was  drunk,  sir.'  'Sir,'  said  Col.  I.amb, '  let  me  tell  you,  that  drunk  or  sober, 
i/')ii  will  never  be  an  Arnold,  or  fit  to  compare  with  him  in  uny  military  capacity.' 
'  What  do  yon  mean  by  that,  sir?'  exclaimed  (Jen.  G.  'Literally  and  emphatically 
what  I  say,'  was  the  answer.  Here  I'utnam  ( wlio  lisped^  lirokc^  in  :  'Whath  all  thith?' 
lie  said;  'God,  cnth  it,  pcntlenicn,  let  the  traitorRoj  Here's  Washington'.s  health 
in  a  brimmer.'  This  ended  the  conversation,  and  the  matter  was  not  pushed  to 
farther  arbitrament."— £^/e  and  Times  of  Lamb,  p.  '2C2. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


207 


Gcucrftl  Arnold  wiis  the  ovAy  fuinmifisioiied  otlicer  who  re- 
ceived a  wound.' 

"During  nil  the  fiirlit,"  siivrt  J'nncroft,  *' neither  Cfiitrs 
nor  Lincoln  (second  in  conmiund)  appeared  <»n  the  field."" 

The  <j:allantry  of  Arnold,  liis  reckless  exposure,  his  severe 

Wound,  added  tVcsh  lustre  to  his  i'anie.     Kven  (iates,  coerced 

l»y  tli(;  synijiatliy  and  entlmsiastic  admiration  of  the  army, 

created  l»y  Arnold's  licroisiu,  now  mentioned  his  name  in 

his  rej)ort  of  the  hattle  to  (\)nii;res9,*  and  that  hody,  as  we 

sliall  detail  more  fully  hereafter,  at  last  gave  him  his])ro]«er 

raid<.' 

There  are  many  ttuiching  incidents  connected   with  the 

details  of  this   hattle;  none   more  so  than   the  death  and 

hurial  of  (Jeneral  Frascr.     lie  lingered  after  heing  wounded 

until  the  8th,  and  a  short  time  hefore  his  death  t',\j)rcssed  u 

wish  to  he  huried  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  in  a  redoubt 

1.  Lo'siiiR'H  Field  Rnok  of  tlio  HcvoltUion.  V.il.  I,  p.  64. 

2.  liiincnia's  Uls.  of  rnitcMl  SliUus,  Vol.  IX.  p.  Us. 

:t.  Uancniris  Uistory  of  I'liitoil  stiiics.  VdI.  IX,  p.  4is.  "In  )i  is  report  of  tlio  action 
(Jutes  imincil  Arnold  witli  Mnrsiiii  niii)  l)eiirl)i)rn." 

4.  TliiTC  was  little  ilispositioti  in  those  who  wrote  inimcillatoly  nfttr  the  war,  to 
ilo  Ariiolil  justice,  niiclsoine  later  historians  have  heen  so  hlintled  by  prejuilice  ns 
tndeny  liiin  all  hi  nor,  and  therefoi  j  I  shall  he  excused  fur  quoHnt?  tlic;  eloquent 
words  of  (Jeorpo  W.Curtis,  in  his  Ontenniai  oration,  in  regard  to  his  eonduct: 
"Tlie  ltrili>li,  dismayed,  bewildered,  ovcrwliciiiied,  were  •scarcely  within  tlieir  re- 
donht-,  when  Itehcdiet  Arnohl,  to  wlioni  the  jealo\is  <  iaies,  who  did  not  come  upon 
Uie  Held  dnrinK  tlie  day,  had  rel'nscd  a  ronimand,  ontriilinnan  aid  whom  fiatos  liad 
sent  to  recall  liim,  came  spurriiij.;  up;  Henedict  Arnold— whose  name  America  does 
not  love,  wliose  ruihlcsswill  linddra'/fjed  tlic  doomed  Canadian  e.xpediiion  through 
tlie  str.rvlns;  wilderness  of  Maine,  wlio  voluntceriuK  lo  relieve  Fort  stanwix  had, 
liy  the  mere  terror  of  hiseoniin;.',  lilown  St,  hcfjer  away,  and  wlio  nn  tlie  Ptili  of  Sep- 
tember had  saved  tlie  American  left,  licnedict  Arn(jld,  wliom  hattle  stum;  to 
fury,  now  whirled  from  end  to  end  of  the  American  line,  hurled  it  iiK'ain^t  the 
Kreat  redoubt,  driving  tlieeneniy  at  (he  point  of  the  bayonet:  tlieti  (linginK  liinT-elf 
to  the  extreme  right,  ar.  "  inding  there  tlie  Massachu.sctts  briRade,  swept  it  with 
him  to  the  assault,  and  aniingover  the  breastworks,  scattered  the  Brunswick- 
ers,  who  defended  them,  killed  tlu'ir  t.'oloncl,  gained  and  held  the  point  which 
commanded  tlie  entire  nrilish  iiosition,  while  at  tlic  same  moment  liis  horse  was 
shot  under  him,  and  he  sank  to  the  ground  wonndeil  in  the  leg  that  liad  been 
wounded  nt  Quebec.  Hereupon  tiie  IIu<lson.  where  lie  tried  t)  betray  his  conn- 
try;  here  upon  the  sjiot,  where,  in  the  crucial  hour  of  the  Revolution,  ho  illus- 
trated and  led  the  American  valor  that  made  ns  free  and  great,  knowing  well  that 
no  earlier  service  can  eondone  for  a  later  crime,  let  us  recall  for  one  brief  Instant 
of  infinite  pity,  the  name  tliat  has  been  justly  execrated  for  a  century." 


;? 

—  i 

;? 

! 
I  > 

[ 


208 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


\vliicli  liad  been  l)uilt  on  the  top  of  a,  liill  near  the  hattle- 
^round.  At  sunset,  folk)wed  hy  General  Burgoyne  and  the 
staff  officers,  his  body  was  borne  l)y  the  grenadiers  of  his 
division  to  the  grave.'  The  Americans,  seeing  indistinctly 
through  the  twilight  a  movement  of  soldiers,  and  not  know- 
ing what  it  meant,  pointed  their  artillery  upon  the  funeral 
cortege,  and  as  it  proceeded  up  the  hill  balls  struck  the 
ground  near  the  new-made  grave.  Undisturbed  and  for- 
getful of  all  but  the  duties  of  his  sacred  office,  the  chaj)lain, 
with  "unaltered"  voice  read  the  sublime  service,  "])ust  to 
dust;  ashes  to  ashes,"  though  often  himself  covered  with 
the  dust  thrown  up  by  the  shot  which  fell  around  him.' 

Amidst  the  cheers  and  shouts  of  the  trium])h  to  which 
he  had  so  gallantly  led  liis  troops,  Arnold  was  borne  bleed- 
ing and  helpless  to  his  quarters.  The  victory  was  m'ou, 
and  P)Urgoyne's  surrender  was  now  a  (piestion  only  of  time. 
Arnold  was  soon  made  to  realize  that  the  words  of  Schuyler 

1.    "  Slowly  and  sadly  we  liiid  liim  dnwn, 

rnim  the  field  of  liis  fiiiiie  Ircsli  mid  Rory; 
We  carved  not  a  line,  we  niisi'd  not  a  stone, 
liut  we  leit  him  alone  in  hi.s  glory." 

2.  Burpnyno  has  himself  very  eloquently  and  feelingly  described  the  srcne- 
"The  incessant  cannonade  during  the  ceremony;  the  steady  attitude  and  unal- 
tered voice  w:th  which  the  chaplain  otliciated,  though  Irequently  covered  with 
dust  which  the  shot  threw  up  on  all  sides  of  him  ;  the  mute,  hut  expressive  mix- 
ture of  sensibility  and  indi(,'nntion  upon  every  countenance;  these  ohjects  will 
remain  to  the  last  of  life  ui)on  the  mind  of  evory  r.ian  who  was  present.  'J  he  grow, 
ing  darkness  added  to  the  scenery,  and  the  whole  marked  a  character  of  that 
juncture  which  would  make  one  of  the  finest  subjects  for  the  pencil  of  a  mas'' 
tliat  the  field  ever  exhibited.  To  the  canvas  and  to  the  faithful  page  of  a  moi'e 
impor:aut  historian,  gallant  friend!  I  consign  thy  memory.  Tlioie  may  thy  talents, 
thy  manly  virtues,  thoir  progress  and  their  jieiiod,  tind  due  distinction  and  long 
may  they  survive ;  long  after  the  frail  record  of  my  pen  shall  be  forgotten."— 
Ining's  Life  of  lVn:^liiiiritim,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  277 

The  following  is  the  tribute  from  the  poetic  pen  of  Bancroft  to  the  memory  of 
Fraser,  and  is  scarcely  surpassed  by  anytning  in  Ossian? 

"  Never  more  shall  he  chase  the  red  deer  through  the  heather  of  f-'trath  Frrick.or 
guide  the  skiff  across  the  fathomless  lake  of  central  Scotland,  or  muse  over  the 
ruins  of  the  Stuarts  on  the  moor  ot  Drum  Mossie,  or  dream  of  glory  beside  the 
crystal  waters  of  the  Ness.  Death  in  itself  is  not  terrible  ;  but  he  came  to  America 
for  selfish  advancement,  and  though  bravely  true  as  a  soldier,  he  died  uneon. 
soled."— Z>uiicn/r«  Jlistuiy  uj  the  Uiiilcd  UkUcs,   Vut.  IX,  p.  41i>. 


I 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON . 


200 


were  true.  ''Gates  will  be  intlebteJ  to  liiin  for  tlic  glory 
lie  lujiy  acquire  by  the  victory."  *  Arnold's  blood  watered 
the  laurels  which  new  encircled  the  brow  of  Gates.  There 
is,  savB  De  Quincy,  a  Nemesis  which  haunts  the  steps  of 
those  who  become  illustrious  by  appropriating  the  trophies 
of  their  brothers.  Gates  ungenerously  a])j)i'"|>riated  the 
honors  due  to  Arnold  and  to  Schuyler,  and  has  passed  into 
merited  disgrace. 

I)Urgoyne  abandoning  his  sick  and  wounded,  attempted 
to  retreat  to  Saratoga.  Here  he  found  himself  completely 
surrounded.  Staik,  with  two  thousand  men,  h(dd  the  river 
at  Fort  Edward,  and  his  whole  camp  was  exposed  to  cannon 
and  rifle  shot,  and  the  firing  upon  him  was  constant.  On  the 
17th  the  terms  of  ca])itu]ation  were  signed,  and  his  ■whole 
army  surrendered,  the  Americans  obtaining  forty-two 
])ieces  of  the  best  brass  ordnance  then  existing,  a  large 
(quantity  of  ammunition,  and  4,600  muskets.  The  British 
loss  in  this  campaign  is  estimated  at  ten  thousand  men." 

On  ^fonday,  Nov^  4th,  Colonel  Wilkinson  laid  before 
Congress  the  papers  in  relation  to  the  surrender  of  15 ur- 
goyne.' 

1.    Lotter  from  Sclniylor  to  Vnriok,  before  quotcil. 

'i.  In  a  letter  to  (ienenil  Scliuyler  from  Col.Viiriuk,  diited  "Albany,  October  30th. 
1777,''  (Scliuyler  I'apcrs'lie  say.s; 

"  General  Arnolil  is  Krowinp  better  very  fast.  He  requests  his  eomplinicnis  to  you 
He  is  in  exipcctation  iif  accKnijittuyinf;  you  to  €onr;revs.  JIc  hvtt  satislietl  with 
Gdles'  convention  (with  llurgoyne).  He  thinks  we  ini.nht  have  caught  them  on  more 
advantageous  teinis  than  we  liavo."  *  *  (lUirRoyiie  and  his  army  did  not  l)econie 
absdlute  prisoners  to  he  exeluuitjed,  only  agreein,'  not  to  mtvc  ajjaiii  during  the 
war  ) 

"Great  part  of  Gates'  army  is  still  here.  They  have  (lestroye<l 'almost  all  the 
fences.  Amons;  others  y(]U  have  a  great  share  of  lo^s.  Mrs.  Schuyler'.s  poultry  and 
garden  have  sullered  in  defiance  of  every  order  and  thieat." 

And  again  he  writes  : 

"Nov.  1,1777. 

"General  Arnold  is  growing  better  daily.  So  is  also  Jfajor  Ackland.  The  for- 
mer censures  Gates  detaining  the  troops,  lie  says  they  ought  to  have  joine<l  Gen- 
eral Washington.    Gates  is  billiting  1W  >  in  and  about  this  \t\m'e."—S'cUiiiilir  P.iperK. 

o.  "Colonel  Wilkinson,  Adjutant  (ieiieral  in  (iates'  army,  was  made  by  him  ttie 
bearer  of  disi)atches  to  Congre.fs,  communicating  the  (Iheial  intelligence  of  the 
surrender  of  Burtjoyue,  aud  the  articles  of  cai>itu'ation.    Wilkinson  arrived  ut 

14 


210 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


On  Tuesday  Congress  passed  a  vote  of  tliaiiks  to  Generals 
Gates,  Lincoln  and  Arnold,  and  "  the  otlier  officers  and  sol- 
diers," for  "their  brave  and  successful  efforts."' 

On  the  29tli  General  Washington  was  directed  to  issue  a 
new  commission  to  General  Arnold,  of  such  a  date  as  to 
give  him  the  precedence  to  which  he  was  entitled." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  his  iirst  promotion,  from  Col- 
onel to  Brigadier-General,  was  given  as  a  reward  for  his 
efforts  in  leading  the  army  through  the  wilderness  to  Can- 
ada, and  for  his  gallantry  in  the  assault  on  Quebec.  lie  was 
made  a  Major-General  for  his  heroism  at  Ridgetield,  where 
one  horse  was  killed  under  liim  and  another  wonnded,  and 
when  he  escaped  as  by  a  miracle,  l)ut  his  proper  rank  had 
been  hitherto  refused  l)y  Congress. 

The  victory  at  Saratoga,  where,  at  each  of  the  battles,  he 
was  the  only  ]\[ajor-General  on  the  field,  his  last  brilliant  and 
triumphant  charge  and  his  severe  wound,  brought  to  him 
the  rank  he  had  long  before  won,  and  now,  at  last,  AVash- 
ington  enclosed  his  commission,  saying:  ''You  are  re- 
stored to  the  rank  you  claim  in  the  line  of  the  army.  This 
(the  commission)  I  transmit  by  direction  of  Congress."^ 

Writing  to  Lincoln,  a  jnnior  who  had  been  promoted  over 
Arnold,  he  says  :  "  General  Arnold  is  restored  to  a  violated 
Tigkt^  and  the  restitution  I  hope  will  be  consi<lered  by  every 

Kaston,  in  PoniiKylvnnia,  on  the  24tti  of  October,  and  wrote  from  tlint  place  a  line 
to  Gcncrnl  WftsliinRton,  merely  statins  the  fact  of  tlie  surrender,  the  number  of 
]irisoners  taken,  and  the  nature  of  bis  errand  to  ("onKress,  bat  not  iiitimatinjr  tliat 
he  had  any  authority  from  General  Gates  to  make  this  commuiiloation  to  tlioCom- 
mnnder-in  Chief,  nor  enelosins  a  copy  of  the  articles. 

"  Wilkinson  did  not  reach  the  scat  of  Congress  till  the  31st  of  October,  fifteen  days 
after  the  convention  of  .Saratoga  was  sipined,  and  then  it  Took  him  three  days  to 
put  the  papers  In  order  which  he  was  to  lay  before  ('onp:res<!.  It  was  on  this  occa- 
sion that  one  of  the  m>'nibers  made  a  motion  in  Congress  that  they  should  compli- 
ment Colonel  Wilkinson  with  the  gift  of  a  pair  of  spure."— iVe  Sparks'  Writings  of 
W'ashirigton,  Vut.  V,  p.  114. 

I.    .lournals  of  Congress,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  400,  177V. 

;:.    Journals  of  Congress,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  MS,  1777. 

a.    Sinirks'  Writiuijs  of  Washiuijtjn,  Vol.  V,  i>.  213. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASOX. 


211 


gentleman  concerned,  a?  I  am  sure  it  will  by  you,  as  an  act 
of  necessary  justice." ' 

Thus  ended  these  battles  near  Saratoga,  and  the  campaign 
which  secured  American  independence.  It  was  decisive; 
it  disheartened  the  enemy,  it  fixed  the  wavering,  and  filled 
the  patriots  with  new  hope  and  energy,  and  it  brought  act- 
ive aid  from  France  and  Spain  to  the  patriot  cause. 

It  was  a  brilliant  success,  and  some  one  is  fairly  entitled 
to  the  honor  of  achieving  it.  AVho'^  Schuyler's  wise  prej)- 
aration  and  magnanimity  cannot  be  too  highly  honored. 
J>ut  who  fought  the  battles?  Gates  did  not  see  the  face  of 
the  enemy  dm-ing  the  campaign.  To  what  extent  did 
Arnold  contribute  to  the  trium])h  of  the  Americans? 
AV^ashington  sent  him  North  to  rally  the  militia  and  lead 
them.  They  flocked  to  his  standard,  and  he  led  them  to 
victory.  His  exjiedition  up  the  ^^fohawk  was  a  jierfect  suc- 
cess, and  if  Stanwix  had  not  been  relieved,  and  St.  Leger 
had  come  down  to  Albany  and  formed  a  junction  with 
Burirovne,  the  result  wouhl  r>robab]v  have  been  chauffed. 
Jieturning  from  Fort  Stanwix,  Arnold  skirmished  success- 
fully, and  restored  the  spirits  of  the  army,  dej>ressed  by  the 
retreat  from  Ticonderofja.  He  selected  IJemis  Ueiirhts  for 
the  battle-ground,  and  fought  the  battles  of  the  lltth  of 
September  and  the  Tth  of  October. 

If  this  is,  indeed,  true,  and  if  the  conflict  at  Saratoga  was 
one  of  the  great  battles  which  have  influenced  the  fate  of 
nations;  if  this  was  the  decisive  contest  of  the  lie  volution; 
if  it  was  fought  by  Arnold,  and  his  blood  contributed  to 
the  victory,  should  he  not  have  the  credit,  so  dearly 
earned?  Give  all  honor  to  Schuyler;  give  to  JNIorgan, 
Stark,  Dearborn,  ami  (jthers,  all  ])raise  as  brave  partisans, 
but  let  historj'  be  just  and  trutht'ul,  and  record  that  Bene- 
dict Arnold  was,  the  hero  of  the  campaign  of  1777,  and  of 
the  battles  of  Saratoga. 

1.   Sparks'  Wrltini?s  of  Washington,  Vol.  V,  p.  217. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WASHINGTON'S   FRIENDSHIP-ARNOLD'S    GENEROSITY. 

"I  take  the  liberty  of  presenting  these  (epaulettes  and  sword-knotts)  as  a  testi- 
mony of  my  sincere  regard  and  approbation  of  your  conduct."— yi'ashii)gton,  to 
Arnold.    1 

AnNOLD's  WorND— ITr  is  CAr.RiF.D  TO  Albany,  thence  to  Connecticut— Recep- 
tion AT  New  Haven— Receives  Pistols,  Epaulettes  and  Swoud  Knots  Aiosi 
Washington— II E  Supplies  Money  for  the  Education  and  Maintenance  of 
THE  Orphans  OF  General  Warren— Goes  to  Valley  Forge— Washington 
Assigns  him  to  Command  of  ruiLADELPHiA. 


The  wound  of  Genoral  Arnold  received  at  the  battle  of 
the  7th  of  Octohcr,  wHkS  very  severe  and  painful.  In  a 
letter  written  from  Albany  on  the  evening  of  October  8th, 
it  is  said:  "The  brave  General  Arnold  is  badly  wounded  in 
his  left  leg,  having  received  a  compound  fracture,  which 
endangers  the  loss  of  the  limb." " 

Ex-Senator  Foster  savs:  "I  recollect,  further,  hearing  mv 
father  speak  of  Arnold's  impatience  and  IVetfulness  with 
the  surgeon,  who,  on  looking  hastily  at  his  wounded  leg, 
expressed  some  apprehension  that  amputation  might  bo 
necessary.     This,  according  to  my  recollection,  was  on  the 

field.     Arnold  thought  he  should  stand  "no  such  d d 

nonsense,  and  that  if  that  was  all  the  surgeon  had  to  say, 
the  men  should  lift  him  upon  his  horse,  and  he  would  see 
the  action  through."  ^ 

1.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  V,  p.  301. 

2.  Connecticut  Couranl  of  Oct.  luth,  1777. 

3.  MSS.  letter  of  Hon.  L.  F.  S.  Foster,  to  the  author,  Oct.  29th,  1877. 

(212) 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


213 


Arnold's  im]iatieiiecixn(l  cliat;riii  must  have  been  increased 
by  the  unmerited  honors  lavished  by  Con<i^ress  upon  Gates. 
So  elated  was  (iates  by  the  victory  which  had  been  secured  by 
the  wise  preparation  of  Schuyler  and  by  the  valor  and  the 
skill  of  Arnold  and  M(ti"<j;an,  and  their  associates,  wlu)  fonght 
the  battles  of  Saratoga,  that,  in  his  arrogance,  he  made  no 
report  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  to  Washingttin,  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  but  passed  hiin  by,  in  contemptuous 
neglect,  reporting  directly  to  Congress,  and  that  body, 
instead  of  rebuking  the  insubordination,  on  the  4th  of 
Xovember  voted  that  a  gold  medal  should  be  struck  in  his 
lionor:  "IIokatio  Gatks,  Duel  /Strenuo,  Oomifia  Ameri- 
cana"— The  American  Congress  to  Iloratio  Gates,  the 
gallant  leader.' 

Arnold  was  carried  in  a  litter  from  the  cam]>  at  Saratoga 
to  Albany,  and  remained  there,  completely  disabled,  during 
the  autumn  and  much  of  the  winter  of  1777-8.  On  the 
'J-ith  of  December,  1777,  Dr.  J.  l>rown,  a  surgeon  in  the 
Continental  Army,  writing  of  a  visit  to  the  hospital,  says: 
"  General  Lincoln  is  in  a  fair  way  of  recovery.  *  *  lie 
is  the  patient  Christian,  etc.  *  *  Xot  so  the  gallant 
General  Arnold,  for  his  wound,  though  less  dangerous  in 
the  beginning  than  Lincoln's,  is  not  in  so  faira  way  of  heal- 
ing,    lie  abuses  us  for  a  set  of  ignorant  pretenders.'' 

Late  in  the  winter  or  early  spring,  he  was  able  to  be 
moved  to  Connecticut,  and  it  is  said  that  on  his  way,  in 
passing  through  Ivinderhook,  New  York,  his  wound  was 
still  in  such  a  condition  that  a  door  ]wst  had  to  be  removed 
to  make  room  for  his  litter  to  enter  the  house  where  he  was 
to  pass  the  night.' 

lie  spent  some  time  in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  and  on 

1.  "General  Gaies  was  to  be  cxaltcfl  upon  tlic  ruins  of  my  roputation  and  indu- 
c\\cc."—Wn!<fiinplon  to  Patrick  Iknry.  .^pdrks'   M'ritiinjn  nf  M'ai<hivgt<m,  Vol.  V,  p.  015. 

2.  Kew  England  lUstorical  and  Gonealogkal  KcKlster,  Vol.  XVIII,  p.  34. 
o.    Henry  C.  Van  Sshoick,  His.  Magazine,  Sept.  1778,  p.  525. 


214 


LIFE   OF   I5ENEDIC  "    ARXOLD. 


I    I 


the  Ist  of  May,  was  aljle  to  reach  liis  sister  and  liis  old 
home  in  New  Haven.  A  few  days  more  than  a  year  liad 
passed  since  (April  27,  1777.)  he  had  made  the  des])erate 
tight  at  Ilidgetield,  and  dnrlng  that  time  he  had  made  the 
campaign  up  the  Mohawk,  fought  the  battles  near  Saratoga, 
and  he  now  returned  to  his  friends  and  neighbors  the  popu- 
lar hero  of  the  campaign  of  1777.  But  the  recognition  of 
his  great  services  by  Cotigress  was  cold.  Gates,  who  had 
not  been  under  fire,  was  loaded  with  honors  bought  by 
Arnold's  blood.  The  people,  however,  impulsive  and  gen- 
erous, received  their  "fighting  general"  on  his  return  to  his 
native  State  with  acclamations.  The  officers  of  the  army, 
the  militia,  the  cadet  company,  and  a  throng  of  the  most 
respectable  citizens  of  New  Haven  went  out  to  welcome 
the  gallant  and  still  suffering  soldier,  to  testify  their 
esteem  and  conduct  him  to  his  home.  A  salute  of  thirteen 
guns  announced  to  his  devoted  sister  and  to  his  proud  and 
eager  sons  his  approach.' 

From  the  campaign  of  1777,  and  the  surrender  of  I>ur- 
goyne,  the  name  of  Arnold  became  a  familiar  word  at 
many  a  home  and  beside  the  fireside  of  many  a  log  cabin 
on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  the  jMohawk,  and  the  New 
York  lakes,  as  %vell  as  in  New  England,  and  was  honored 
and  cherished  until  he  himself  brought  disgrace  upon  it. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  cold  recognition  of  Arnold's  ser- 
vices by  Congress,  but  it  w^as  otherwise  with  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. Thatcher,  in  his  "  American  lievolution," 
says: 

"  It  is  but  justice  to  confess  that  by  his  military  phrcnsy,  or  romantic 
heroism,  Arnold  contribut{?(l  to  the  honor  and  success  of  that  day  i battle 
of  Oct.  7th).  General  Washington  had  a  high  sense  of  his  gallantry, 
and  presented  him  with  a  pair  of  elegant  pistols."  - 

And   on   the  20th  of  January,  when   transmitting  the 

1.  Connecticut  Journal,  May  Ctli,  1778. 

2.  Ai)peudix  to  Thatcher's  Ainericau  Revolution,  p.  4G8. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


2Lj 


ante-dated  commission,  so  loni^  witldiold  by  Confjress,  con- 
ierriii<i;  upon  Arnold  tlie  rank  lie  had  claimed,  and  directed 
to  him   at   Albany,  vliere    he   was    still    confined    by  his 


wounds,  AVashinirton  closes  his  letter 


hy  saying: 


"Mny  I  vonliire  to  ask  whrthor  you  am  upon  your  lof,'s  n^ain?  If  yoii 
aro  not,  may  I  flattoi*  myself  tliat  \\u  will  bo  soon?  Tlii'n-  is  tioin'  wlio 
wislios  innro  sineorclv  for  iliis  ovoiit  than  I  do,  ov  who  wil   it'ccivi.' ilu' 


inf(!nuati(m  with   more   n'.casnri' 


As  soon  as  your  situation 


will   jn'riiiit,   I  ro(|ii('st  that   yon  will  repair  to  this  army 


it  h 


fm-'  mv 


'  I 


•  •arnpst  wisii  to  nave  your  si'rvieos  tlie  ensuiiiir  oamiiai^'ii. 

A  tV'w  days  alter  Arnold  reached  New  Haven,  he  received 

the  following  letter  from  AVasliiiii^toii: 

••  V.M.i.KY  FuROE.  7  May,  1778. 
"  Dear  Sin: — 

"  A  ".'entleuian  in  France  havlnj;  very  ohlifjrinjjly  sent  me  three  sets  of 
epaulettes  and  sword-knots,  two  of  which,  profess  'dly,  to  be  disposed  of 
to  any  friends  T  should  choose.  I  take  (he  liberty  of  iiresentinLr  them  to 
you  and  (i.-neral  Lincoln,  as  a  testimony  of  my  sincere  re<:ard  and  ap- 
probation of  your  conduct.  I  have  been  informed  by  a  tJrigade-Major 
of  General  lluntinijton's,  of  your  intention  of  ie|)airin;;  to  camp 
shortly;  but.  notwithstandinj,'my  wish  to  see  you,  I  must  bey  that  you 
will  run  no  hazard  by  cominjr  out  too  soon. 

"  ]  am  sincerely  and  atfectionately  your  obedient,  etc."' 

This  testimony  of  AVashington's  "sincere  ri'gard  and  ap- 
l)robation  "  of  Arnold's  "conduct"  and  of  his  sympathy 
and  affection,  were  very  gratifying,  and  it  seems  to  me, 
coming  from  one  who  knew  him  so  well,  is  entitled  to 
<>;reat  consideration  in  jndo-ing  of  Arnold's  character  and 
conduct  previous  to  his  treason, 

I  now  come  to  other  incidents  in  the  life  of  Arnold 
which  show  that,  with  all  his  faults,  his  heart  was  warm 
with  gratitude  and  generosity;  and  that  he  had  formed  a 
friendship  for  General  AVarren,  M'hich  survived  the  death 
of  that  heroic  man,  and  was  manifested  in  a  most  liberal 
manner  towards  his  children. 


11. 


1.  Sparks'  Writings  of  WasliinRton.  Vol.  V,  p.  210. 

2.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Wushington,  Vol.  V,  p.  'Ml. 


21(3 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


It  will  be  remembered  that  General  AVarrcii,  at  the  time 
of  Arnold's  visit  to  Cambridge,  in  1775,  was  diairnian  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  wa§  an  active  friend  of  Ar- 
nold's in  his  expedition  to  Ticondero<:;a  and  St.  Jolnis.  The 
friendship  then  formed,  and  Arnold's  s^rateful  recollections 
of  Warren's  kindness,  were  not  obliterated  by  time  nor  by 
the  vieissitndes  of  a  soldier's  life.  Warren,  when  killi-d  at 
]>unker  Hill,  left  four  children,  Elizai)eth,  Joseph,  Mary 
and  liichard,  all  of  them  under  twelve  years  of  ai^-e,  and 
their  oidy  inheritance  was  the  name  made  so  illustrious  by 
the  patriotism  and  death  of  their  father.'  In  the  sprin<; 
of  1778,  Arnold  learned  that  these  children  of  his  friend 
were  in  want,  and  that  no  one  had  as  yet  made  any  pro- 
vision for  thorn,  lie  was  not  at  this  time  a  rich  man;  he 
had  expended  lar<j;e  sums  of  his  own  money  in  the  j^uldic 
service,  and  his  accounts  had  not  been  settled  and  ])aid  by 
Congress;  yet  he  did  n(tt  hesitate  in  affording  liberal  aid. 
In  a  letter  to  Miss  Mercy  Scollay,  he  says  : 

"About  three  months  ago  I  was  infbrmod  that  my  late  worthy  frioml 
General  Warren,  left  his  affairs  nnsottled,  and  that,  after  paying  his  dohts, 
a  very  small  matter,  it'  anything,  would  remain  tor  the  education  of  his 
children,  who,  to  my  great  sur{)rise,  I  fin<l  liave  been  entirely  neglected 
by  the  State.  I'ermit  m(>  to  beg  your  continning  your  care  of  the  daugh- 
ter, and  that  you  will  at  jn-e^ient  take  charge  of  the  education  of  the  son. 
1  make  no  doubt  that  his  relations  will  consent  that  he  shall  be  under 
your  care.  ^ly  intention  is  to  use  my  interest  with  Congress  to  provide 
for  the  family.  If  they  decline  it,  I  make  no  doubt  of  a  handsome  col- 
lection by  private  subscription.  At  all  events,  /  will  provide  for  them  in 
a  manner  suitable  to  their  birth,  and  the  grateful  sentiments  I  shall  ever 
feel  for  the  memory  of  my  friend.  I  have  sent  to  you  by  Mr.  Hancock 
five  hundred  dollars  for  the  present.  I  wish  you  to  have  Richard  clothed 
handsomely,  an  I  sent  to  the  best  school  in  IJoston.  Any  expense  you  are 
at,  please  call  on  me  for,  and  it  shall  be  paid  with  thanks  "  * 

The  above  letter  was  written  July  15th,  1778.     In  the 

following  letter  to  Dr.  Townsend,  dated   Aug.  Gth,  1778, 

there  are  interesting  details  on  the  same  subject. 

1.  I.ifo  of  .Toseph  Warren,  by  Frothiughnm.  pp.  542-43. 

2.  Sparks'  Lit^^of  Aniolil,  p.  127. 


ins    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


217 


"  I  wroto  you  somo  time  since,  respecting  the  children  of  my  late 
worthy  friend,  and  requested  the  favor  of  your  puttins^  Richard  to  a 
school,  and  sohciting  Miss  Scollay  to  keep  Betsey.  Soon  after  I  was  in- 
formed you  had  left  Boston,  and  as  it  was  uncertain  if  you  would  rece' vo 
niy  letter,  I  wrote  Miss  Scollay  by  Mr.  Hancock,  and  sent  her  five  hundrcil 
dollars,  requesting  her  to  take  particular  care  of  the  education  of  Betsey, 
and  prevail,  if  possible,  with  the  relations  to  have  Richard  sent  to  the 
best  school  in  Boston  at  my  expense.  Mr.  Hancock  has  promised  to  me 
his  interest  to  have  the  children  taken  care  of.  I  shall  apply  to  Congress 
soon.  U  they  decline,  make  no  doubt  of  a  handsome  collection  by 
private  subi^eriptions.  At  all  events,  am  determined  they  shall  be  pro- 
vided for,  Ns  iiich  fortune  has  put  in  my  power  to  etl'ect.  I  shall  be  glad 
to  hear  from  you  at  all  times  and  am.  Dr.  Townsend, 

"  Your  i-'riend  and  Humble  Servant, 

"B.  AllKOLD."' 

From  a  letter  written  by  Samuel  Adams  to  Elbricl<i^e 
Gerry  and  James  Lovell,  dated  Dec.  20tli,  1770,  I  make 
the  followiiiij  extract: 

"  The  two  younger  children,  a  boy  of  iibout  seven  years,  and  a  girl 
somewhat  older,  are  in  the  family  of  Joiin  Scollay,  Esq.,  under  the  par- 
ticular care  of  his  daughter,  at  her  most  earnest  request;  otherwise,  I  sup- 
pose, they  would  have  been  taken  care  of  by  their  relations  at  Roxbury, 
and  educated  as  farmer's  children  usually  are.  Miss  Scollay  deserves  the 
greatest  praise  for  bsir  attention  to  them.  She  is  exceedingly  well  quali- 
fied for  her  charge;  and  her  affection  for  their  deceased  father  prompts 
her  to  exert  her  utmost  to  inculcate  in  the  minds  of  these  children  those 
principles  which  may  conduce  '  to  render  them  worthy  of  the  relation 
they  stood  in  '  to  him."  ' 

"  General  Arnold  has  assisted,  by  generously  ordering  five  hundred 
dollars  towards  their  support.  This  I  was  informed  of  when  I  was  last 
in  Philadelphia.  I  called  on  him,  and  thanked  him  for  his  kindness  to 
them.    Whether  he  has  done  more  for  them  since  I  cannot  say. "  * 

The  generous  sentiments  of  Arnold  for  the  children  of 
Warren  continued  to  be  manifested  by  occasional  supplies 
of  mone}",  as  promised  in  his  letter  to  Miss  ScoHay. 

1.    New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register.  Vol.  IX,  ji.  V22. 
'J.    Miss  Scollay  is  said  to  have  been  engaged  to  bg  married  to  General  \Yarren, 
ai*  his  seeond  wile  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
a.    Frotliiiighani's  Life  of  Wurren,  p.  403. 


218 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


^ 


"  Anioltl  made  aj  i)Ii('iitif.u  to  Conmc's  for  provision  foi  tliosothiiilron, 
and  the  application  was  rt'tcrrod  to  a  committee  who  rf ported  'that  the 
tiircc  .vniiiif,''i'r  fhil(h'ci)  oriJi'ticral  W^arn'ii  sii'iuld  1)0  iiiniiitiiinrd  at  the 
])\ii)lic,  cxpt'iisc,  in  ii  ni, inner  suitable  to  tlicir  rank  in  iilc,  till  tiicy  .should 
come  of  iiK*'.  mid  at  that  time  one  thousand  jioiinds  should  he  driven  to 
each  as  a  portion  '  If  this  report  was  ever  called  up,  it  did  not  receive  the 
sanction  of  CVmLrress.  Arnold  jM-rsevered,  however,  in  his  solicitation, 
and  at  last  the  jioiiit  was  cairied  to  allow  for  the  support  of  these  cliilih'cii 
the  half-pay  of  a  major  ffeneral  Irom  the  date  of  their  lather's  deatli  till 
the  yoiinyi'st  should  he  ol'  at,'e. 

"Geni-ral  Warren  had  lieen  dead  five  years,  and  the  annual  auiount  of 
lialf-pay  wa<  somewhat  more  tiian  tliiri(>c!i  hundred  dollars,  makint,'  the 
sum  due  nearly  seven  thousaixl  dollars,  besides  the  future  stijtend. 
In  the  con^'ratulatory  letter  which  Arnold  wrote  to  Miss  HcoUay  on  tliis 
event,  on'y  six  weeks  before  tlie  consnnunation  of  liis  treacjiery,  he  reit- 
erated his  ardent  concern  for  the  welfare  of  the  children,  but  complained 
that  his  a])plication  to  ('onj,''sess  had  been  0))posed  from  tlie  bejiinninf,''by 
all  th(>  Massachux'tts  deiefj'ates  except  one.  'J'hey  looked  u])on  the  case 
as  api)ertainini,'  only  to  the  f^tate  of  Massachusetts,  and  as  not  coniinjf 
within  the  .iiirisdiction  of  Con.yress.  Others  had  tlie  same  o])inion.  The 
success  of  tlie  measure,  which  every  bcnevoU'nt  mind  must  heartily 
approve,  may  be  fairly  ascribed  to  the  zeal  and  perseverance  of  Arnold. "  ' 

The  letter  of  Geiierfil  Arnokl  to  Miss  Scollivv,  referred 
to  l)y  Sparks  in  tlie  preoediiif^  quotation,  is  as  follows: 

"  Peaks  Hill,  Augt.  3rd,  1780. 
"  Dr.  Madam: — 

"  1  must  ask  pardon  for  not  answering  your  several  letters  before,  in 
particular  tht>  one  of  the  7th  iiist.  I  di' assuro  you  it  was  not  inatten- 
tion, Imt  a  hope  (deferred  from  time  to  tim:-)  of  giving  you  an  accot. 
of  the  success  of  my  application  to  Congress  in  favor  of  the  orphans  ot 
tiie  late  (leneral  Warren,  whic'h  1  hope  yon  will  admit  as  an  ai)ology 
I  now  have  the  pleasure  to  iiitbrm  you  that  my  application  has  so  far  sic- 
ceeded  (notwithstanding  it  has  been  opposed  from  the  beginning  liy  the 
Delegates  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  except  by  Mr.  Holton. 
Mr.  Gerry,  in  particular,  did  everything  in  his  power  to  preytMit  the 
Success  of  the  Appli'n),  that  Congress  have  at  last  Resolved  that  the 
three  youngest  children  (the  oldest  being  provided  for)  shall  receive  the 
Half  pay  of  a  ^lajor-General  from  the  Death  of  the  Geneial  until!  they 
,ire  of  age.  which  will  amount  to  three  hundred  jioimds  ])r.  annum,  ('. 
(Continental)  money,  in  Specie  or  an  equivalent,   so  that   there   is  five 


1.    Spark's  Life  of  Arnokl,  p.  128. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS    TREASON. 


219 


yours'  pay  tluo,  aintjf.  to  the  Sum  of  £1")00  in  Specif,  wiiich  tlio  Statos  ir* 
i»y  tlio  KcsoliitiDu  of  Conj,'n'SH  ri'(|U('stcd  to  pay,  and  to  jirnvido  tiiu  Edu- 
(■atioii  and  clotliin^,',  Art;.,  of  tin,'  (Jliildrcn. 

When  application  was  niado  to  t'onj,'ros8,  Mx*.  Gerry  opposed  it  as  dis- 
iif,'reeul)l(;  to  tho  Sontliern  States,  and  a  provision  wliicii  ouylit  to  lie 
made  by  the  Htato  of  Massachusetts  Hay;  when  a  iirivate  suhscription 
was  handed  about,  he  opposed  it  aa  dislionorablo  to  the  State  and  the 
liarticuhir  friends  and  rehitions  of  tlie  hitc  General,  so  th.it  a  trifle  was 
subscribed  and  nothing?  collected.  Jt  has  not  been  want  of  Inclinutwjn, 
but  want  of  ability  which  has  prevented  ray  remitting  you  the  ballance 
lor  the  expense  of  the  children.  Tiie  Public  are  indebted  to  me  for  a  con- 
siderable Sum  which  I  advanced  for  them  in  Canada,  and  for  four  years 
pay  which  I  cannot  obtain.  I  must  request  you  will  jirosent  the  Acco't 
of  expenses  incurred  to  tho  I'resid't  and  Council  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
without  any  mention  of  my  name,  and  rcfpiest  payment,  which  1  make  not 
the  least  doubt,  they  will  not  oidy  Comply  with  but  reimburse  tlie  Sum 
advanced.  In  a  hurry  I  forgot  tin.'  Hesolution  of  Congress;  I  have  this  day 
wrote  to  Philadelphia  for  it.  When  it  arrives  I  will  Inclose  it  to  you.  If 
the  State  refuses  to  ])ay  the  Acco't.,  I  shall  (>steem  myself  obliged  to.  I3ut 
as  the  Resolution  of  Congress  makes  ample  provision  for  them,  they  will 
not  stand  in  need  of  the  assistance  of  Individuals  in  future.  The  (Jen- 
oral  Officers  of  tho  Army  have  within  a  few  days  presented  a  Spirited 
^lemorial  to  Congress  in  behalf  of  the  Widows  and  orphans  of  all  those 
who  have  fell  in  the  Service  of  their  Country  since  the  Commencement  of 
the  war,  and  I  am  not  without  hopes  of  our  Succeeding  in  it.  Your  ob- 
servations on  tho  Charitable  disposition  of  People  of  oppulence  is  very  Just. 
Charity,  urbanity,  and  the  Social  Virtues  Seem  swallowed  up  in  the  tu- 
mult and  Confusion  of  the  times,  and  self  wholly  engrosses  the  nabobs  of 
the  present  day.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  tender  of  services, 
and  shall  be  happy  at  any  time  to  receive  a  letter  from  you,  and  to  hear 
of  the  welfare  of  your  charge,  as  T  fo('.  myself  greatly  interested  in  their 
happiness,  and  hope  you  will  be  enabled  to  resume  the  charge  of  them 
soon.  Please  to  present  my  love  to  them,  and  believe  me,  with  great 
regard  and  esteem,  Madam, 

"  Your  Obed.,  Hble.  Svt., 

"B.  Aknold." 
"  T  wish  you  would  be  good  enough  to  consult  with  your  Friends,  as  a 
proper  method  of  obtaining  the  Ballance  due  you  of  tho  State;  which  I 
lliiiik  they  cannot,  with  any  Face  of  .lustice,  refuse  when  they  have  the 
Resolution  of  Congress.  But  if  that  should  be  the  Case,  you  will  please 
to  ma'vO  out  a  particular  acco't  in  Specie  of  the  whole  Sum  you  have  ail- 
vanced,  and  credit  the  Sum  you  have  received,  that  the  Ballance  may 


220 


LIFi:   OF    BENEDICT    AUXOI-D. 


apponr.    For  which  I  may  possibly  honor  an  order  of  Congress  for  pay- 
ment. 

"B.  A.» 
"Miss  Scou.AY." 

The  action  of  Congress  referred  to  wns  as  follows:  on  the 
first  of  July,  17S0. 

"On  motion  of  Mr.  Livingstone,  seconded  by  Mr.  Adams,  Congress 
came  to  ♦he  following  resolutions: 

"WnKHEAS,  ('(inyrcss  have  thought  proper  to  erect  a  monument  to 
the  memory  of  Major-Ooneral  Warren,  in  consideration  of  his  distin- 
giiisiied  mont  and  bnivi'i-y,  and  to  make  provision  for  the  education  of 
his  eldest  son;  and  wiiereius,  it  appi'ars  no  adequate  ]irovision  can  bo 
made  out  of  his  private  fortune  for  the  education  and  maintenance  of  his 
three  younger  children:  therefore, 

licsolred.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Executive  of  Massachusetts 
l?ay  to  make  provision  for  the  maintenance  and  education  of  the  said 
three  children  of  the  late  Major-general  Warren. 

licsoUed,  'I'liat  Congress  will  defray  tho  expense  thereof,  to  the 
amount  of  the  half-pay  of  a  major-general,  to  commence  at  the  time  of 
liis  death,  and  conlinuo  until  the  youngest  of  the  said  children  shall  be  of 
age 


"  a 


1.  Ccrtinod  from  Dcrirtmcnt  of  State  at  Washington. 

2.  Frothiiiglnun's  Life  of  Joseph  Warren,  p  644. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  monies  ndvaneed  and  paid  to  Mi^s  Merry 
Scollay,  copied  I'rnm  tlie  day-book  of  General  Benedict  Arnold,  in  liisown  haiid- 
writing,  now  in  the  ofllce  of  the  Secretary  of  tlio  Coiuinonweallh  of  I'unuisylvania, 
at  Ilarrisburg,  p.  3. 

"1778.    Miss  Merey  Scollay  to  cash  Dr. 

July  15.    To  5(J0  dollars  fur  expenses  on  neet.  of  the  late  Gcnl.  Warren's 

children,  JEl.W 

(This  appears  by  Arnold's  letter  to  Miss  Scollay  to  have  been  sent  by  Ilancock.) 

[Pago  IG.] 

"  Feb.  W,  1779.    Miss  Mercy  Scollay,  Dr. 

"  To  cash  500  dollars  for  the  use  of  the  late  Gen.  Warren's  children,  sent  by 
Lieut.  Peter  Richards." 

There  ore  several  accounts  of  curious  Interest  in  this  book;  among  others,  one 
with  Gen.  Washington.  There  are  accounts  with  ships  "Mars"  and  "Jonathan," 
the  sloop  "  Active,"  the  "  Charming  Nancy,"  and  schooner  "  General  Arnold." 

Among  the  charf  are  items  for  arms  furnished.  There  are  large  tiansactions 
with  his  sister,  Hannah  Arnold,  showing  that  she  was  entrusted  with  Important 
business  alfairs  for  him." 

There  are  accounts  with  "Ilcn.  Silas  Peanc,"  and  items  with  him  about  the  time, 
or  soon  after,  his  marriage,  for  broca<les.  strlfied  satin,  silk,  white  and  gncn,  linen, 
cambric,  etc.;  also  accounts  with  his  butler,  Ben  Provost,  for  family  expenses.  Also, 


HIS    rATIlIOTlSM    AND    HIS    TREASON'. 


221 


SiK'li  was  tlio  notion  of  this  po-cnlltMl  "ponlitl,"  "  iivjirif- 
ious"  "  and  pfriis|tini,'"  man  towards  tlic  cliildivn  of  a  tVii'nd, 
wlio  ''had  rondt'ivtl  him  fsome,  and  tlii;  State  <;iTat  service." 

In  the  dinry  of  the  eminent  snr^i^eon,  Jolin  ('.  Warren, 
who  was  a  near  rehitive  of  Joseph  Warren,  (hited  17!M>,  at 
"  ]\rari.mtc,  KM<^hind,"  is  written:  "I  met  (General  Arnold, 
the  "traitor,"  so  called.  lie  was  tliero  with  Ids  family;  1 
recollect  a  son,  very  handsom-  and  a  daui^hter.  j\riiold 
was  rather  a  stont  man,  i)road  shonldere(l,  lar^e  hlaek  eyes. 
He  walked  lame  from  a  wonnd  received  at  the  attack  on 
Qi  ;bec,  I  think." 

^n  May,  Arnold  arrived  at  the  camp  of  AVashinjifton,  at 
Valley  Forge.  His  wound  still  rendered  him  unlit  for 
active  service  in  the  field,  and  as  it  was  exjK'cted  that  the 
JJritish  Would  very  soon  evacuate  ]*hiladel[)hia,  the 
Comnninder-in-Chief  determined  toi^ive  him  the  command 
of  that  city.  This  would  he  a  new  and  untried  theatre  for 
one  whose  true  place  was  on  the  battle-iield.  Jrap])y  would 
it  havt  been  for  him  if  he  could  have  remained  with  Wash- 
ington, and  shared  with  his  chief  the  perils  and  the  glory 
of  the  war  until  the  contest  closed  at  Yorktown. 

The  drama  which  now  opened  in  the  city  of  Penn,  then 
the  metropolis  of  the  Union,  presenting  this  brave  soldier 
in  the  character  of  an  ardent  lover  and  successful  suitor  of 
the  belle  of  Philadelphia,  the  young,  fascinating  and  beau- 
tiful Pegi^y  Shippen,  and  wliich  ended  so  darkly  at  West 
Point,  I  will  not  enter  upon  until  the  next  chapter. 

"April  2, 1779,  Rev.  Mr.  Barth'w  Booth,  Dr. 

"To  cash  £()00  lawful  money,  for  schooling  and  boarding  Bon  and  Richard  two  and 
a  luUf  years.  To  £300  for  their  expenses."  These  were  his  two  childreu  by  his  first 
wife. 


!B3 


f 


i , 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ARNOLD'S  COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE. 

"  She  loved  me  for  the  dangers  I  hpd  passed, 
And  I  loved  her  that  sho  did  pily  them." 

PniLADEi.rniA  during  the  Revolvtion—Arnold  Assumes  Command  and  Succeeds 

PlU    AViLLIAM  IIOWK    IN    OCCUPVIN'O  THE  PENN    IIOUSE— TlIE  SlIIPPEN   FAMILY 

— MAjiiR  JuHN  Andre— The  "  Mischienza"— Pegoy  Shippen,  the  Beli.e  op 
PiiiLADELPinA— Arnold  as  hee  Suitor— IIis  Courtship—Settles  upon  hfh 
Mt.  I'levsant— Ills  Marriage  and  Domestic  Life— Letter  op  Hannah 
Arnold  to  Mrs.  Arnold  at  West  Point. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1778,  the  British  army  retired 
from  Pliihidelphia,  and  on  the  19th  General  Arnold,  by 
direction  of  Washington,  assumed  command  of  tiiat  city. 
During  tlie  IJritisli  occupation,  the  headquarters  of  Sir 
William  Howe,  commanding  the  British  force,  liad  been 
the  mansion  which  was  once  tlie  home  of  Governor  Ilichard 
Penn,  the  grandson  of  "William  Penn.  This  Jiouse  was 
afterwards  repaired  hy  llobert  Morris,  and  occupied  by 
President  AVashington,  wliile  the  seat  of  government  was 
at  Philadelphia,  and  thns  it  became  known  as  the  "  Wasli- 
iuicton  ]\[ansion." 

The  British  army  had  taken  possession  of  Pliiladelpliia 
on  the  twenty-sixth  of  September,  ]777,  and  for  the  liead 
quarters  of  tlie  commander  they  had  selected  Mdiat  was 
then  regarded  as  tlie  finest  house  in  the  city.  It  was  built 
of  brick,  and  stood  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Front  and 
Market  streets,  "a  large,  double  house,  and  M'hich  Mith  its 

(222) 


HIS    TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASOX. 


22:] 


offices  extended  bacl:  one  liundred  and  twcntv-one  feet,"' 
and  llusli,  in  liis  reminiscences  says  of  it,  that  in  ITUO  few, 
if  any,  eqnaled  it  in  Philadelphia.'  Here  (ieneral  llowu 
and  his  hrilliant  staff  of  officers  and  associates,  passed  a  gay 
winter  in  1777-'S. 

To  sncli  an  extent  were  the  gayeties  and  dissipations  car- 
ried in  tills  old  (^)naker  city  durini^  that  time,  that  Dr. 
Franklin  said:  "(Jeneral  Howe  lias  not  taken  Philadelpliia; 
Pliila<lel])hia  lias  taken  (Ieneral  Howe."  lie  and  his  asso- 
ciates certainly  seemecl  much  more  interested  in  the  amuse- 
ments which  occupied  their  time  than  in  ellurts  to  capture 
the  army  of  General  AVashiunjton.  Phi  lade!  j)hia  was  tlien 
the  most  imjjortant  city  in  America,  and  its  social  circles 
were  amont";  the  most  cultivated  and  aristocratic.  Thenjen- 
try  consisted  'arijely  of  the  okl  Quaker  families  and  those 
v-'onnected  with  the  Anc^h'can  church,  and  many  of  them 
])0ssessed  wealth,  culture,  courtly  manners  and  diijnified 
deportment.  The  hulies  were  already  distin2;uislied  for 
their  beauty,  grace  and  intelligence.  Chastellux,  a  French 
traveler,  says  they  were  graceful  and  fascinating,  and  dressed 
with  eh'gance.  The  majority  of  the  so-called  fashionable 
society  people  adhered  to  the  crown,  and  cordially  welcomed 
General  llowe;  and  during  his  stay  the  young  English  offi- 
cers were  the  leaders  and  favorites  in  sucial  gayeties  and 
amusements,  AVhile  the  P)ritish  were  living  in  luxury  in 
the  city,  and  indulging  in  all  sorts  of  dissipation,  the 
American  army  under  Washington  were  eiuluring  with 
lieroic  fortitude  the  hanlships  of  Yalle}-  Forge.  Anioni; 
the  former,  dinner-parties,  cock-h'ghts,  amateur  theatri- 
cal performances,  and  every  amusement  and  dissipa- 
sipation  idle  men  could  desire,  occupied  their  time. 
Among  these  gay  and  dashing  young  soldiers  ]\[ajor  John 
Andre   was   a   favorite,     lie   was   young,  liandsome    and 

1.    The  Historic  Mansions  of  l'lillii<.loIi>hia,  p.  :2iO.    Rush's  Reminiscences. 


221 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


graceful,  and  of  purer  morals  and  a  more  refined  taste  than 
many  of  his  associates.  He  was  a  welcome  guest  in  the 
house  of  Edward  Shippen,  a  gentleman  of  rank,  character 
and  fortune,  and  of  one  of  the  most  respected  families  in 
l*hiladeli)liia,  and  who,  although  he  took  no  very  decided  part 
on  either  side  during  the  war,  and  was  generally  regarded  as  a 
loyalist,  yet  such  was  his  high  personal  character,  that  he  was, 
after  its  termination,  elected  Chief  Justice  of  Pennsylvania. 
Andre,  though  a  hravo  and  efficient  soldier,  was  still  more 
distinguished  as  a  favorite  in  societv,  and  was  ever  readv, 
Loth  with  his  pen  and  pencil,  to  contribute  to  its  amuse- 
ments. He  wrote  graceful  verses,  arranged  plays  for  exhi- 
bition, painted  scenery  and  drop-curtains,  and  was  himself 
an  accomplished  actor. 

Among  the  amusements  aixl  gayeties  of  the  winter  of 
1778,  was  the  celebrated  JllseJi'wnsn,  a  pageant,  jilay  and 
mock  tournament,  gotten  up  in  honor  of  General  Howe. 
It  was  a  novel  and  splendid  entertainment,  and  in  conse- 
(juence,  perhaps,  of  the  very  prominent  ])art  taken  in  its 
preparation  and  perfoi'mance  by  the  uiilbrtunate  Major 
Andre,  and  the  appearance  in  it  of  Miss  Peggy  Shippen, 
afterwards  the  wife  of  General  Arnold,  it  has  always  been 
regarded  with  historic  interest.  The  scene  of  this  brilliant 
])ageant,  which  took  place  on  the  eighteenth  of  ]\[ay,  1778, 
was  at  Walnut  Grove,  the  country  seat  of  Joseph  AVharton,* 
a  fine  old  country  house,  surrounded  by  a  noble  park  of 
venerable  trees,  the  grounds  extending  to  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware. 

The  Queen  of  the  Mischiensa  has  represented  Andre 
as  "  the  charm  of  the  company."  lie  seems  to  have  l)een 
the  leader  of  the  whole  affair,  and  his  costumes,  verses,  etc.. 
were  all  very  clever.  The  knights  and  ladies  who  a])])eared 
were  divided  into  two  parties;  one  designated  as  that  of 

1.    Historic  Munsions  of  Philadelphia,  p.  4G(3. 


ins   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASOX. 


90a 


the  '*  T»uvning  Mountahi,''  and  the  other  as  the  '*  IjlendeJ 
Kose." 

Ainoiii^  theotlier  incidents  of  tlie  s])cctaclc  was  a  tourna- 
ment, arranged  and  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  cus- 
toms and  usai^es  of  ancient  chivahy.  Knights,  mounted 
on  trained  liorses  and  armed  as  in  the  ohlen  time;  hidies 
<lressed  in  hrilliant  costumes,  with  favors  with  whicli  they 
were  to  reward  the  kniglits  who  contended  in  their  lienor. 
The  party  designated  as  "The  Kniglits  of  the  J^lended 
Iwose,"  were  led  by  Lord  Cathcart,  and  with  him  were  as- 
sociated six  knights,  each  with  his  squire,  and  each  selected 
one  of  the  ladies  in  honor  of  whom  he  was  to  contend  in 
the  lists. 

Third  on  the  list  of  this  party  was  Captain  John  Andre, 
in  honor  of  Miss  P.  Chew;  his  device,  two  game  cocks 
lighting;  motto.  No  Rival.  The  sixth  knight  of  this 
party  was  Lieutenant  Sloper,  in  hi»nor  of  ^liss  AL  Shi]>i)en; 
device,  a  heart  and  sword;  motto.  Honor,  and  the  Juiir. 

Captain  AV^atson,  of  the  guards,  was  the  chief  of  the 
]>arty,  designated  as  "  The  Knights  of  the  Burning  ]\roun- 
tain,"  supported  by  six  knights,  each  attended  by  his  squire, 
and  each  to  contend  in  honor  of  the  hvly  of  his  choice. 
The  second  knight  of  those  making  up  the  party  of  "The 
Iiurning  ^[ountain"  was  Lieutenant  AVinyard,  in  honor  of 
Miss  Peggy  Shippen;  device,  a  bay-leaf;  motto,  "  unchanfje- 
dhh..''''  '  These  two  parties,  superldy  mounted — those  of 
the  IJlended  Pose  on  gray,  and  those  of  the  lUiniing  ]\foun- 
tain  on  black  horses — now  contended  in  the  lists,  accord- 
ing to  the  rules  of  chivalry,  with  lance  smd  shield 
and  sword,  for  the  honor  of  their  several  ladies,  "as  supe- 
rior in  wit,  beauty  and  accom])lislunent  to  those  of  the 
whole  world."  After  the  tournament  followed  the  bestowal 
(»f  favors,  a  brilh'ant  ball,  splendid  fireworks  and  illuinina- 

1.    Sargent's  Life  of  Andre,  p.  172,  etc. 
15 


R     !• 


220 


LIFE   OF    BFNEDICT   ARNOLD. 


iHj    ) 


' 


I 


\ 


tions.  Among  these  gay  and  brilliant  actors  Andre  and 
Miss  Shii)pen,  afterwards  IVFrs.  Arnold,  were  conspicnoiis. 
This  gay  yonng  .MtUlicr,  and  this  lovely  maiden,  then  only 
eighteen  years  of  age,  hright  and  joyous,  mingling  in 
scenes  of  romance  and  mimic  chivalry,  happy  in  the  present, 
and  hope  lighting  up  all  the  future;  happy  that  the  veil 
■was  drawn,  shutting  out  from  the  one  liis  ti'agic  death  ui)()n 
the  scaffold,  and  from  the  other  her  clouded  life,  her  exile 
from  home  and  fi-iends — yet  a  life  devoted  to  duty  in  sooth- 
ing the  perturhed  S])irit  of  a  bitterly  dit^aj^pointed  man,  a 
life  which  opened  so  hrilliantly  to  go  out  in  <larkness.  The 
spectacle  was  altogether  a  very  brilliant  affair  *  *  but 
]>rovoked  much  ridicule,  and  the  inquiry  Mas  often  made 
what  had. (Jeneral  Howe  done,  during  liis  uku-c  than  half- 
year's  indolent  and  luxurious  occupation  of  the  city,  to 
merit  such  an  ovation  ? 

As  the  British  retired  from  the  city,  Arnold  entered  and 
as>unuKl  command,  aiul  took  possession,  as  his  head(]uarters, 
of  the  same  Penu  House  which  Jlowe  had  so  lately  occu- 
})ied. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  character  of  those  Avho  pre- 
ceded him,  and  hov.'ever  effeminate  their  amusements,  lie 
was  no  "  carpet-knight."  Kot  in  the  tilting  yard,  nor  at  the 
tournament,  nor  in  any  form  of  mimic  war,  had  his  laurels 
been  won.  In  the  wilderness,  by  the  severest  hardshi])s 
and  sufferings,  beneath  the  walls  of  Quebec,  un  the  Lake, 
against  the  most  decisive  odds,  on  thetield,  in  the  midst  of 
cariKige  and  blood,  had  he  earned  the  character  which 
induced  Washington  to  express  a  desire  to  have  "his  ser- 
vices the  ensuing  campaign,''  '  ami  to  ask  him  to  join  the 
main  army,  as  soon  as  his  wounds  would  permit  active  field 
service. 

1.    Washington  to  Arnold,  January  20th,  1778,  Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington 
Vol.  V,  p.  210. 


HIS    TATIUOTISM    AND    HIS    TRKASOX. 


227 


It  liaf  alrciuly  been  stated  that  the  Shipjien  family  M'as, 
at  the  time  ot'thv  lievolution,  one  of  tlie  inostdistincjuished 
and  respected  in  I'hihidelphia.  Edward  IShi]>])eu  had  tliree 
daugliters  mIio  took  part  in  tlic  JMhcMenza — ]\Iiss  8.  Ship- 
])en,  Miss  ^[.  Shippen,  and  ]\riss  l*e<]ff]^y  Shippen,  who  hecame 
Airs.  Arnold.^  The  latter  was  the  "  darling  of  the  family  cir- 
cle." Young,  extremely  beautiful  and  gracefid,  and  with  a 
magnetism  of  person  and  manner  which  drew  to  her  in  love 
and  admiration,  everv  one  who  came  within  her  inlluence, 
Washington  said  to  Lafayette,  "Ah,  Marquis,  you  young  men 
are  all  in  love  with  Mrs,  Arnold.'"  Tarltou  and  other  return- 
ing officers,  after  she  went  to  London,  reported  that  "  she 
was  the  handsomest  woman  in  England."  The  enthusiasm 
M-ith  which  IFamilton,  in  his  letter  to  Miss  Schuyler,  de- 
scribes her  will  not  be  foi-gottcn.  I  have  read  her  letters  to 
her  father,  husband  and  fainily,  from  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riace  to  her  death,  and  there  is  throu<;hout  an  exhibition 
of  filial  tenderness  and  respect;  a  conjugal  devotion, 
]»urity,  elevation  and  dignity,  which  indicate  a  Wiirni  and 
affectionate  heart,  a  (Miristian  fortitude,  and  a  cultivated 
intellect,  rare  as  beautiful. 

While  Philadelphia  was  held  by  the  British,  as  has  been 
stated,  courtesies  were  reciprocated  l»etween  the  families  of 
wealth  and  social  position  and  the  British  otHcers,  and  the 
brilliant  INfajor  Andre  was  a  frequent  and  welcome  visitor 
at  the  Shippen's;  and  there  is  yet  preserved  among  them 
as  an  heir-loom,  a  pin-and-ink  sketch  of  Miss  Peggy  Shij)- 
])en,  in  the  costume  of  the  Mlschienza.,  drawn  by  Andre. 
When  Arnold  took  command  in  I*hiladelphia.  crippled 
with  honorable  wounds  in  the  service  of  his  country,  few 
soldiers  in  the  American  army  had  a  higher  reputation  for 
skill,  and  none  were  more  distinguished  for  personal  cour- 


if;!' 


ii 


1.  Sargc!it's  Life  of  Andre,  pp.  171-2. 

2.  Irviiig's  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  1q7. 


ngn 


228 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


IHil 


i; 


i 


i  * 


age.  These  are  qualities  wliicli  the  people  always  appre- 
ciate, and  those  possessing  them  have  in  all  ages  been  the 
especial  admiration  of  women.  Arnold  was  still  young, 
(»nly  thirty-six,  of  manly  bearing,  s])lendid  ])liysi(|ue,  and  yet 
l>ore  visible  marks,  both  in  his  ap])earancc  and  his  move- 
ments, of  the  wounds  he  had  received.  It  is  not  surprising 
that  lie  should  have  captivated  the  foncy  and  won  the  heart 
of  the  beautiful  and  fascinating  Miss  Shippen. 

A  member  of  the  Shipjien  family  says  "  there  can  be  no 
doubt  the  imagination  of  ]\[iss  Shippen  was  excited,  and  licr 
heart  captivated  by  the  oft  repeated  stories  of  his  gallant 
deeds,  his  feats  of  brilliant  courage,  and  traits  of  generosity 
and  kindness,  such  as  his  contributions  towards  the  educa- 
tion of  the  or])han  children  of  General  AVarren."  ^ 

It  was  not  long  before  he  was  the  declared  suitor  lor  the 

hand  of  JSIiss  Shippen.     In  a  note  to  her  father,  asking  his 

permission   to  address  his  daughter,  Arnold  says,  among 

other  things: 

"  My  fortune  is  not  larjjo,  tliongh  sufficifnt  (not  to  Jepond  upon  my 
expectations)  to  make  us  both  happy.  I  neither  expect  nor  wish  one 
with  Miss  Shippen.  *  *  My  public  character  is  well  known;  my 
private  one  is,  1  hope,  irreproachable.  If  I  am  happy  in  your  approba- 
tion of  my  proposa's  of  an  alliance,  I  shall  most  willingly  accede  to  any 
you  may  please  to  make  consistent  with  the  duty  I  owe  to  three  lovely 
children.  Our  ditt'ercnco  in  political  sentiments,  will,  I  hope,  bo  no  bar 
to  my  happiness.  1  flatter  myself  the  time  is  at  hand  when  our  unhappy 
contests  will  be  at  an  end,  and  peace  and  domestic  happiness  be  restored 
to  every  one.''       *       * 

On  the  2r)th  of  September,  he  made  to  her  the  following 

formal  declaration  of  his  love  and  offer  of  his  hand: 

"  Deau  Madam:— 

"  Twenty  times  have  T  taken  up  my  pen  to  write  to  you,  and  as  often 
has  my  trembling  hand  refused  to  oljey  the  dictates  of  my  heart — a 
heart  which,  though  calm  and  serene  amidst  tlio  clashing  of  arms  ami 
all  the  din  and  horrors  of  war,  trembles  with  diffidence  and  the  fear  of 

1.    Shippen  Tapers. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


229 


givinpr  offence  when  it  attempts  to  address  you  on  a  subject  80  important 
to  its  happiness.  Dear  madam,  your  charms  have  lighted  up  a  tlame  in 
my  bosom  v  hich  can  never  be  extinguished;  your  heavenly  image  is  too 
deeply  impressed  ever  to  be  effaced. 

"  My  passion  is  not  founded  on  personal  charms  only:  that  sweetness 
of  disposition  and  goodness  of  heart,  that  sentiment  and  sensibility  which 
so  strongly  mark  the  character  of  the  lovely  Miss  P.  Shippen,  renders 
her  aimiable  beyond  expression,  and  will  ever  retain  the  heart  she  has 
once  captivated.  On  you  alone  my  happiness  depends,  and  will  you 
doom  me  to  languish  in  despair?  8hall  I  expect  no  return  to  the  most 
sincere,  ardent  and  disinterested  passion?  Do  you  feel  no  pity  in  your 
gentle  bosom  for  the  man  who  would  die  to  make  you  happy?  May  1 
jiresume  to  hope  it  is  not  impossible  1  may  make  a  favorable  impression 
on  your  he.irt?  Friendship  and  esteem  you  acknowledge.  Dear  Peggy, 
suffer  that  heavenly  bosom  (which  cannot  know  itself  the  cause  of  pain 
without  a  sympathetic  pang)  to  expand  with  a  sensation  more  soft, 
more  tender  than  friendship.  A  union  of  hearts  is  undoubtedly  necessary 
to  happiness;  but  give  me  leave  to  observe  that  true  and  permanent  hap- 
piness is  seldom  the  effect  of  an  alliance  founded  on  a  romantic  passion ; 
where  fancy  governs  more  than  judgment.  Friendship  and  esteem,  found- 
ed on  the  merit  of  the  object,  is  the  most  certain  basis  to  build  a  lasting 
happiness  upon;  and  when  there  is  a  tender  and  ardent  passion  on  one 
side,  and  friendship  and  esteem  on  the  other,  the  heart  (unlike  yours) 
must  be  callous  to  every  tender  sentiment  if  the  ta^ier  of  love  is  not 
lighted  up  at  the  flame. 

"I  am  sensible  your  prudence  and  the  affection  you  bear  your  amiable 
and  tender  parents  forbids  your  giving  encouragement  to  the  addresses 
of  any  one  without  their  approbation.  Pardon  me.  Dear  ^ladame,  for 
<lisclosing  a  passion  I  could  no  longer  confine  in  my  tortured  bosom.  I 
have  presumed  to  write  to  your  Papa,  and  have  requested  his  sanction  to 
my  addresses.  Suffer  me  to  hope  for  your  approbation.  Consider  be- 
fore you  doom  me  to  misery,  which  I  have  not  deserved  but  by  loving 
you  too  extravagantly.  Consult  your  own  happiness,  and  if  incompatiltle, 
forget  there  is  so  unhappy  a  wretch;  for  may  I  perish  if  I  would  give 
you  one  moment's  inquietude  to  purchase  the  greatest  possible  felicity  to 
myself.  Whatever  my  fate  may  be,  my  most  ardent  wish  is  for  your 
happiness,  and  my  latest  breath  will  be  to  implore  the  blessing  of  heaven 
on  the  idol  and  only  wish  of  my  soul. 

"Adieu,  dear  Madame,  and  believe  me  unalterably,  your  sincere  ad- 
mirer and  devoted  humble  servant, 

"  B.  Arnold. 
"  Sept.  2\  1778. 

"Miss  Peggy  Shippen." 


230 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


iffi  I 


I! 


This  is  not  the  language  of  a  man  wliose  attentions  had 
been  wasted  u2)on  unworthy  objects,  but  the  words  express 
a  genuine,  manly,  honest  attachment.  This  letter  warmly 
expresses  a  passion,  ardent,  sincere,  and  so  true  and  gener- 
ous, that  ho  is  unwilling  to  purchase  his  own  supreme  haj)- 
piness  at  the  expense  of  hers.  "May  I  ])crish,"  says  the 
l)lunt  soldier,  "if  I  would  give  you  one  moment's  inquie- 
tude to  purchase  the  greatest  possible  felicity  to  myself." 

It  has  been  said  that  her  father  opposed  their  marriage; 
if  so,  ti)C  opposition  was  not  persistent.  On  the  21st  of 
Dectiuber,  1778,  Mr.  Shippen  says: 

"  I  {jave  my  daughter  Betsy  to  Noddy  Burd  last  Thursday  evening,', 
and  all  is  jollity  and  mirth.  My  younycst  daughter  is  much  solicited  by 
a  certain  Cieiieral  on  the  tfamo  subject.  "Whether  this  will  take  place  or 
not  depends  on  circumstances.     If  it  should,  it  will  not  be  till  spring."* 

On  the  second  of  January,  1770,  Edward  Shippcn,  senior, 
grand-father  of  Peggy,  writes  to  Colonel  Burd,  from  Lan- 
caster, "  We  understand  that  General  Arnold,  a  fine  gentle- 
man, lays  close  siege  to  Peggy;  and  if  so,  there  will  bo 
another  match  in  the  ianiily.""  It  fippcars  that  his  ardent 
passion  was  soon  recij)rocatcd,  for  on  the  eighth  of  Febru- 
ary, 1770,  ho  writes  to  her  with  the  fervor  of  an  accepted 
lover; 

"  Camp  at  Rakitan,  February  8th,  1779, 
"My  Dearest  Life :— 

"  Never  did  I  so  ardently  long  to  see  or  hear  from  you  as  at  this  in- 
stant. I  am  all  impatience  and  anxiety  to  know  how  you  do;  six  days' 
absence,  without  hearing  from  my  dear  Peggy,  is  intolerable.  Heavens! 
what  must  I  have  suffered  had  I  continued  my  journey — the  loss  of  hnp- 
piness  for  a  few  dirty  acres.  I  can  almost  bless  the  villanous  roads,  and 
more  villanous  vieu,  who  oblige  rne  to  return.  I  am  heartily  tired  with 
my  journey,  and  almost  so  witli  human  nature.  I  daily  discover  so  nmch 
baseness  and  ingratitude  among  mankind  that  I  almost  blush  at  being 
of  the  same  species,  and  could  quit  the  stage  without  regret  was  it  not 
for  some  gentle,  generous  souls  like  my  dear  Peggy,  who  still  retain  the 

1.  Historic  Mansions  of  Piiiladelphia,  pp.  221-222. 

2.  Historic  Mansions  of  I'liiladelpliia,  p.  222. 


i  \ 


t 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


2-n 


lively  imiH'Pssion  of  thoir  Makor's  iiiiii<,fp,  and  who,  with  smilos  (  f  bc- 
niunity  and  f^oodness,  make  all  liappy  around  thmi.  Li't  nio  bfj^  of  you 
not  to  (<uffor  tin*  rude  attacks  on  nu;  to  ^'ivo  you  one  monient's  uhoasi- 
iiMs;  they  can  do  nio  no  injury.  I  am  treated  with  the  {greatest  politenoss 
liy  (Jenerul  Wa.shin^,'toti  and  the  otticers  of  tlie  army,  who  bitterly  exe- 
crate Mr.  Heed  and  tiiii  Council  for  tiieir  villanons  altemjit  to  injun;  me. 
They  have  adviseil  me  to  proceed  on  my  journey.  The  Ixidness  of  the 
roads  will  not  permit,  was  it  possible  to  support  an  absence  of  four  weeks, 
for  in  less  time  I  could  not  accomiJish  it.  The  day  alter  to-morrow  1 
leave  this,  and  hope  to  be  made  haiii)y  by  your  smiles  on  Friday  evening,'; 
'till  then  all  nature  sjuiles  in  vain;  ibr  you  alone,  heard,  fe!t,  and  seen, 
l)08.sess  my  every' thou;:ht.  fill  every  sen.se  and  jiant  in  every  vein. 

'•  C'larkson  will  send  an  express  to  met't  me  at  IJristol;  '  make  me  happy 
by  one  line,  to  tell  me  you  are  so  ;  please  to  present  my  best  respects  to 
your  mamma  and  the  family.  My  prayers  and  best  wishes  attend  my 
dear  Peyyy.    Adieu!  and  believe  me,  sincerely  and  atl't'clionately  thine. 

'■  B.  AllNOMJ. 

"Miss  Peggy  SairrEN." 

On  the  twenty-second  of  March,  1779,  General  Arnohl, 
in  anticipation  of  his  marriage,  ])urcha!se<l  the  line  ol<l 
eonntrv  seat  calletl  Monnt  I'leasant,  situated  on  tiie  east 
hank  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  made  a  .settlement  of  the  estate 
on  himself  for  life,  "remainder  to  his  wife  and  children." 
Two  weeks  thereafter  General  Arnold  and  Pegoy  Shijtpeii 
were  married  at  the  residence  of  her  father,  a  fine  sub- 
sttantial  mansion  on  the  west  side  of  Fourth  street." 

lie  was  still  so  far  disabled  by  the  wound  received  at 
Saratoga,  that  during  the  marriage  ceremuny  he  was  com- 
pelled to  lean  upon  the  arm  of  a  fellow  soldier,  and  when 
seated  his  limb  was  6n[)ported  by  a  camp  stool. ^  His  con- 
dition rendered  him  only  the  more  interesting  to  the  lovely 
bride.     To  her  he  was  then  and  ever  a  hero. 

The  beautifid  country  seat  of  Mount  Pleasant,  wlucli  he 
settled  upon  his  wife  and  children,  is  still  standing  in  Fair- 
mount  Park.     The  mansion  stands  on  a  bluff,   overlooking 

1.    Mftjdr  !Nratlic\v  Claksm,  of  Xew  York,  was  one  of  Arnold's  aids. 
2    ]Iisl(jri(;  Miiii^iotis  of  I'liiliidcliiliia,  p.  22;), 
o.    Watson's  Annals,  Vol,  111,  p.  418. 


l:^' 


232 


LIFE   OF    HKXLDICT    ARNOLD. 


II 


tlic  Sclmylkill,  to  which  the  ^vonnds  oxtciuhMl.  A  hrotv] 
AVJilk  iVuiii  tlie  I'ront  led  iluwn  to  tlie  bunks  of  the  river;  ii 
ciirriii^'e  drive  (Kissed  around  the  lioiise;  out-lioiises  for 
coacliman  and  <i;ardner,  and  carria^L^e  house  and  barn  were 
in  the  rear,  and  the  whole  sitnatetl  in  extensive  grounds, 
well  wooded  with  grand  old  oaks,  gycaniores,  and  ever- 
greens. John  Adams,  dining  at  this  mansion  in  Octoher, 
1775,  says  it  is  "the  most  ele'^ant  seat  in  Pennsvlvania." ' 
Here,  and  at  his  house  in  tlie  city,  Arnold  resided  until 
his  removal  to  West  Point.  Here  he  gave  those  splendid 
entertainments,  costly  beyond  his  means,  which  involved 
him  in  debt,  and  which  ultimately  contributed  to  his  ruin. 
He  kept  his  coach  and  four,  and  lived  altogether  in  a  style 
of  ostentation  and  ex})ense  entirely  beyond  his  fortune,  and 
unbecoming  the  officer  of  a  country  so  poor  and  struggling 
with  poverty  as  ours  then  was."  His  entertainments  were 
fre«|uent,  and  his  guests  were  numerous,  and  embraced 
nearlj'  all  the  members  of  Congress  and  the  officers  of  the 
army,  as  well  as  the  fashion  of  the  city.  "  AVhen  M. 
Gerard,  the  French  Embassador,  lirst  arrived  in  Philadel- 
])liia,  he  was  entertained  at  a  public  dinner  given  by  General 
Arnold,  and  ibr  several  days  afterwards  the  Embassador 
and  his  suite  occupied  apartments  at  his  house."  ^  On  his 
trial  by  court-marshal,  when  charged  with  entertaining 
tories  and  neglec*^ing  the  friends  of  his  country,  he  says: 
"With  respect  to  the  gentlemen  in  civil  life  and  the  army, 
I  can  appeal  to  the  candor  of  Congress  and  the  Army,  as 
scarcely  a  day  has  passed  but  many  of  both  were  enter- 
tained by  me  ;"  and  in  regard  to  the  reproach  of  entertain- 

1.  Historic  Mansions  of  Philarlclphia,  p.  214. 

2.  In  a  sclipilulc  of  his  propprty  confiscated  in  riiilmlilpliia,  are  mentioned 
iimoiiK  oilier  tliinss,  "  horses  and  cnrriaKes,"  "  furniture,  lieiidinK'and  linen,  &e., 
of  the  valueof  £;500,  books,  electrical  uiachine,  mycroscope  of  the  value  of  Jt20(j, 
china,  glass,  etc.,  etc.,  JCiO." 

3    Sparks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  110. 


Ills   TATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


233 


itiij  tliose  wlio  adhere  to  the  crown,  he  said  :  "  It  is  enouijh 

for  ino,  Mr.  President,  to  contend  with  men  in  the  Jicld.^^  ' 

Here,  on  the  nineteenth  of  Murcli,  1780,  was  horn  to  liiin 

a  son — Edward  Shippen.     His  domestic  life  wliile  in  Phil- 

iuU'lphia,  notwithstandini]^  liis  difficulties  and  annoyances 

with  the  authoritior,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  a  very  hapj)y  one. 

The  aifection  between  himself  and  wife  seems  to  have  been 

tender,  constant  and  uninterrupted.     His  sister,  Hannah, 

with  his  yonnfijest  son,  Henry,  by  his  first  wife,  visited  him, 

and  remained  some  time  in  his  family,  while  his  two  older 

sons,  Ben  and  Kicliard,  were  away  at  school.    A  letter  from 

the  sister  to   Mrs,  Arnold,  dated  September  tenth,   1780, 

ijjives  a  vivid  ]>ictnre  of  the  affection  and  hajipiness  of  this 

familv,  and  shows  how  devotedly  attached  to  each  other 

were  all  its  members. 

"Monday,  September  10, 1780. 

"  1  address  yon,  my  dear  Mrs.  Arnold,  from  the  re<,'ions  of  gloom  and 
solitude;  but  when  this  splunatic  scrawl  will  reach  you,  know  not,  for  at 
present  have  not  the  shadow  of  a  conveyance  for  it. 

"  This  is  Monday,  the  fourth  day  since  your  departure,  and  I  have  not 
once  in  tlit  whole  time  step'cl  my  foot  over  the  threshold  of  onr  own  door, 
and  have  scarcely  been  otf  the  bed  two  hours  together;  have  had  the 
slight  but  troublesome  fever  that  has  so  indiscriminately  attact'd  all 
orders  of  people  (old  maids  not  exempted.)  Mrs.  Burd  has  been  in  the 
j^iune  situation  with  myself,  so  that  we  have  as  yet  not  seen  each  other.  Mr. 
Uurd  has  kindly  called  once  or  twice;  if  you  could  conceive  how  we  miss 
you  and  the  dear  little  bantling,  you  would  pity  us.  Harry  was  incon- 
solable the  whole  day  you  left  us,  and  had,  I  believe,  not  less  than  twenty 
the  most  violent  bursts  of  grief;  his  little  brother  Edward  seems  to  be 
the  principal  theme  of  the  mournful  song — not  one  day  has  escaped 
without  his  sheding  tears  at  his  absence;  he  liiments  tliat  just  as  he 
began  to  know  and  love  his  brother,  lie  must  be  rcninved  so  iar  from 
him  that  he  cannot  even  hear  how  he  do3s  ;  this  day  with  a  falling  tear, 
he  observ'd  to  mo  that  he  thought  it  very  hard  when  he  had  so  few 
relations,  that  they  shoul  I  all  be  at  such  a  distance  from  hiui;  must  own 
the  observation  call'd  forth  a  sympathetic  drop  from  my  eyes.  Am 
extremely  anxious  to  know  how  you  perform  your  journey;  am  very 


■-I 

1 


1.    Court-marshal  Trial  of  General  Arnold,  p.  132. 


. 


ii 


234 


LIFE  OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


fi-arfiil  for  the  poor  little  sorc-lioaded  boy,  and  am  tiirpriz'd  tliat  I  liavo 
not  heard  a  syllable  from  yon,  bnt  coniloit  niy.sc'.t'  with  tliM  thoii^^ht  that 
no  news  is  pood  news,  as  I  rannot  imagine  lait  1  shoidd  havi*  heard  it, 
if  any  miitcrial  accidi-nthad  bdalli'n  you.  Ye.Htcrdny  j;()t  a  letter  fr.iiii 
yonr  anxions  hnsbaud,  who,  lover-liiu',  is  turnn-ntinj,'  hiniHelC  witii  a 
thousand  fancied  disasters  which  have  happened  to  you  iiiid  the  family; 
however  hnjie  by  the  day  after  tomorrow  you  will  be  able  to  n.'niove  all 
his  distres.sinsr  fears.  Heaven  guard  you  safely  to  hiui,  for  in  your  lile 
and  happiness  his  consists. 

"Your  papa  was  in  yesterday;  the  fnniily  at  the  rotlaf;e  were  all  well, 
and  had  junt  heard  your  niamuia  was  pone  down  to  yonr  aunt  I'ierce's — 
my  head  aches,  and  as  i  am  sleepy,  will  close  my  letter  lor  to-night; 
sweet  re.  ose  to  you  and  yours. — 

"Mondiiy  Morning — Had  wrote  the  above,  hoiiinpr  some  opportunity 
•would  [iresent  for  sending  it;  and  iol't  it  unseal'd  to  make  wliatever  aildi- 
tions  I  found  proper;  but  none  presenting,  had  left  it  in  statu  quo;  was 
just  dressing  myself,  with  an  intent  to  creep  out  and  make  Mrs.  Hunt- 
ington a  mori\inpr  visit,  when  Punch' came  tripping  up  stairs  (showing 
his  teeth),  witli  a  letter  in  his  liand  from  misli-ess:  1  broke  the  seal  with 
eager  solicitude,  and  am  more  than  hapyy  to  tind  you  ptn-formed  your 
journey  as  far  as  Brunswick  with  .'■o  much  ease  and  pleasure;  may  they 
both  attend  in  your  train  to  the  end  of  it; — am  njoic'd  at  the  aeeount 
you  give  me  of  Edward;  hope  the  little  rogua  holds  out  as  well  as  he  be- 
gan; reckon  he  will  this  night  finish  his  first  grand  tour. — 

"Sent  just  now  to  see  how  jMrs.  Burd  was;  have  for  answer  tliat  she 
is  much  better;  if  my  morning's  visiting  don't  make  me  sick,  design  see- 
ing her  in  the  evening. — 

"  ThufxiJit'j — Nothing  now  to-diiy.  Saw  Mrs.  Burd  last  night,  and  wj 
have  made  an  appointment  to  Mrs.  Morris's  to-mnrrow.'— family  affairs 
f'O  on  smooth;  find  I  have  got  a  steady,  clever,  industrious  old  cook;  she 
'    ""11  out  only  once  to  church,  and  seems  to  have  no  inelination  for 
ig;  your  papa  keeps  Mrs.  Allen's  house  for  you,  or  himself;  which 
.■sit  will  be  determined  soon;  he  thinks  Mrs.   Allen's,  on  soma  ac- 
counts, most  convenient  for  him,  and  knows  tlie  one  we  are  now  in,  most 
so  for  you;  for  my  part,  wish  he  may  find  it  most  conven.jiit  to  takr! 
Mrs.  Allen's  himself. 

''Friday  Eveninrj — Am  just  returned  from  Afrs.  Morris's  whore  T  drank 
tea  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Cope,  two  Miss  Marshalls,   Miss  Nellie 

1.  A  Negro  servant. 

2.  Mrs.  Robert  Morris,  wife  of  the  financier. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    IIIS   TREASON. 


235 


MiCall,'  MiH.  IfiuTison,' Mrs.  Uiird,'  Miss  Sally  Morris.*  of  Now  Jersey, 
ami  iiiinflicr  Miss — iiiiiiir  unknown,  tlit?  two  Mr.  Coxoh,*  all  tlio  b  'aux  wo 
liatl  to  hi'lp  onrsi'lvcs  with.  Hear  nutliiny  from  tliu  littlo  boys  at  Mary- 
land.*   Mr.  and  Mrn.  Mead  are  just  annonc'd;  adioii  for  to-niyht. 

SntunJaij  Evening — Tiie  day  has  passed  off  without  hearing?  one  lisp 
from  you;  I  cannot  acccjunt  for  it,  unless  by  delays  on  tlio  road;  proniist* 
niysolf  you  are  now  happy  with  my  brother;  hope  you  have  by  this 
rpach'd,  and  Edward  quite  well  of  bis  sore  head.  Your  papa  has  been 
unwell  for  a  few  days,  but  is  better;  lu;  went  from  here  two  hours  since; 
all  well  at  tiie  cottaye.  Your  mamma  ib  not  yet  return'd.  Harry  de- 
sires his  duty  to  papa  and  mamma,  his  love  to  Edward  and  IJotsy;  hcsays 
lie  wishes  mamma  would  please  to  kiss  Edward  one  hundred  times  for 
him,  and  when  her  hand  is  in,  she  may,  if  she  pleases,  give  him  tifty  for 
liis  aunt;  make  my  love  to  my  brother,  if  you  please.  I  shall  expect 
letters  the  first  and  all  opportunities,  and  am  with  sincere  esteem  and 
regard.  Yours,  H.  Aiinom). 

"  1  have  nothing  to  say  in  excuse  for  this  ill  pen'd  scrawl,  but  tliat  wri- 
ting is  not  my  talent.  H.  A."' 


1.    Daughter  of  Samuel  SlnCall. 

2  Mrs.  IIiMiry  llarrismi.  Her  iinslminl  was  mayor  of  Pliilai1cl|iliia  in  17(V2.  Rlic 
was  the  iliuiKliter  of  Muihias  Asinliii.  Her  liall-brotliLT,  Malliiaa  Aspiicn,  was  a 
loyalist.    His  dauRliter  was  tlic  wifo  of  Bishop  White. 

>.      Elisabeth,  eltkst  dau'Jilitcr  of  t'hicf  Justice  Shippcii,  wife  of  Kilwanl   liiird, 

4.  .'^istcr  of  Cioverneur  Morris,  and  who  was  jjfjbal^ly  iu  cliar^u  of  her  broilier's 
household,  ns  he  was  then  unmarried. 

0.  Tlie  two  Messrs.  ('(ixe  must  have  l)een  John  D.  Coxo,  and  his  brother  Tenth 
Coxe.     VWci^abinc's  Loyalists.    HildelMirn,  of  I'hilad. 

0.    Gen.  Arnold's  sons.  Ken  and  Kicliard. 

7    Autograph  letter  from  State  Department  at  WashinRton. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  eaic  and  tendernes.s  of  General  Arnold  tf^wards  liis 
wife  and  child,  I  copy  from  a  j)aper  in  the  ofliee  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Wasli- 
Inston,  in  Arnold's  own  hanU-writint,' : 

"   drections  for  Mrs.  Arnold  on  Her  way  to  West  Point: 

"  You  must  by  all  means  get  out  of  the  Carriage,  Crossing  all  Ferries,  and  going 
overlarfie  Ilridges  to  prevent  accidi^nts. 

"  \'our  llrst  nifjht's  stage  will  be  at  ijristol,  Mr.  Coxe'.s,  20  miles. 

"The  second  at  Trenton,  lianagers,  unless  you  tgo)  to  G.  iJickinson's  or  Col. 
Cailuo.,  10  miles'. 

"The  third  nif^ht  to  Brunswick,  Mrs.  MaT^Miers,  a  good  house,  i8  miles.  If  tlie 
weather  is  warm,  and  this  stage  too  lon^,  jou  can  lodge  at  Princeton,  12  miles  from 
Trenton. 

"  Tlio  fourth  niKlit  at  Newark,  2C  miles.  If  this  stage  is  too  long  you  can  slop  fi 
miles  sliort,  at  Elizal)elhtown,  or  if  any  danger  is  apprehended  from  the  enemy, 
you  will  be  very  sale  riding  a  few  mile-J  out  of  the  common  road. 

"The  fifth  night  at  Paramas.  12  miles. 

"  The  sixth  night,  Judge  Coe's,  11  miles;  and.  If  not  fatigued,  to  John  Smith,  Esqr., 


1 


i    ■■  ; 


h; 


I  ,i  , 


230 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Thus  I  have  cjivcn  a  pliase  of  General  Arnold's  domestic 
life  in  ]'hiladelpliia — liis  courtship  and  niarriai]je.  This 
has  been  done  without  uiin<jjling  with  it  his  public  conduct. 
In  the  next  cha[)ter  I  shall  return  to  his  ])ul)lic  life,  and 
endeavor  to  i^ive  a  truthful  narrative  of  his  difficulties  with 
the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania,  his  trial  by  court  martial, 
and  his  reprimand  by  AVashington. 

0  niilos  furllicr  d  (iiily  tliroo  from  Kins's  Ferry,  where  you  will  be  liospitfibly 
reeeivod  and  well  iiccdinmodatcd.  You  will  fiet  toleriiblo  l)e<ls  iit  foe's,  and  Iroiii 
tlienee  on  south  can  reach  West  I'oiut  uext  day  with  ease,  as  you  will  go  from 
KiiiR's  Ferry  by  water,  so  that  in  seven  days  if  tlie  weatlier  is  eool,  y(ni  will 
perforin  the  journey  with  ease.  At  Paramas  you  will  be  very  politely  received  by 
Mrs.  Watkins,  Mrs.  Trovost,  very  genteel  iieople.  1  Let  nie  1  ep  of  ynu  not  to  make 
yourStn;.'Os  so  long  as  to  latijiue  yourself  and  the  Ur  lioy,  if  you  should  be  much 
loi'ger  in  coming." 

1.   Mrs.  Provost  was  a  Loyalist  of  social  dibtinctlon,  and  was  afterwards  married 
to  Aaron  Burr. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

ARNOLD'S    CONTROVERSY   WITH   THE    AUTHORITIES    OF 

PENNSYLVANIA. 


"Ilis  (Arnold's)  brilliant  services  spolvc  el'  qiiciitly  in  his  fnvor.  His  ailniinrs 
repined  tluit  a  fame  won  by  siuh  diirin.,'  cxiluits  on  the  Held  should  be  si. Hid 
down  by  cold  calumnies  in  I'hiludelphia,  and  many  tliouglit  dispassionately  tliat 
tlie  State  authorities  bad  acted  witli  excessive  liarshness  towards  a  meritnriou^ 
otVuer  in  widely  sprendiiig  tlieir  charues  ajiainst  him,  and  tlnis  in  a:i  unprece- 
dented way  putting  a  public  brand  upon  liim." — iVushin^ton  liviii;/. 

Arnold's  Conduct  in  Command  of  riiii.ADEi.riii.v.— His  CoNinovEnsY  with 
President  Reed  and  the  ArTiinpiTiEs  of  Pennsylvania— The  Action  of 
Congress  — Reports  of  (  ommittee  Kxonekatino  Him  — A  Coiut-Maktiai, 
Ordered  for  his  Trial. 

It  is  my  purpose,  in  the  followinrj;  pa^ijcs,  to  examine  tlio 
conduct  of  General  Arnold  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  charges 
made  against  him  by  the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
endeavor  to  determine  how  far  he  was  guilty  of  conduct 
indicating  a  want  of  inteijrity  as  a  man,  and  honor  as  a 
soldier.  The  most  unqualified  language  of  condemnation 
has  generally  been  used  against  him,  and  the  decision  of  the 
court-martial  by  which  he  was  tried,  has  lieen  cited  as  estab- 
lishinghis  guilt.  So  far  from  this,  the  judgment  of  the  court 
though  in  form  guilty  on  two  charges,  was  substantially  an 
acquittal.  Tlie  so-called  reprimand  of  AVashington  was  an 
eulogy,  such  as  has  rarely  been  bestowed  upon  a  public 
officer,  and  its  warm  commendation  and  generous  sympa- 
thy— following  the  severe  charges  so  widely  circulated — 

(237) 


238 


LIFE   OF    BEXEDICT    ARXOLD. 


were  intended  to,  and  did,  express  "Washington's  confidence 
and  respect.  AVushington  Irving,  wlio  hated  Arnold's 
treason,  but  loved  justice,  in  liis  life  of  "Washington,  says  : 
""We  liave  considered  the  ■partlculavs  o^ t/iis  trial  atten- 
tively, discliarging  from  our  minds,  as  much  as  possible,  all 
impressions  produced  by  Arnold's  subsequent  history,  and 
we  are  surprised  to  find  after  the  hostility  manifested  against 
him  by  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  and  their  extraordi- 
nary measures  to  possess  the  public  mind  against  him ;  how 
venial  are  the  trespasses  of  which  he  stood  convicted."  ^ 

"  In  regard  to  both  charges  nothing  fraudulent  on  the 
part  of  Arnold  was  found."  " 

Let  us  then,  forgetting  iJs  treason,  endeavor  to  investi- 
gate the  facts  fairly,  and  see  whether  Irving's  conclusions 
were  just  or  otherwise. 

ArnoM,  as  the  militaiy  commander  of  the  confederation 
at  Philadelphia,  held  a  very  difficult  and  delicate  position. 
The  jealousy  which  has  always  existed  between  State  rights 
and  National  authority,  was  at  that  time  peculiarly  sensi- 
tive, and  the  line  separating  the  one  from  the  other  was  not 
clearly  defined.  This  city,  during  the  period  of  British 
occupation,  had  been  the  residence  of  a  large  number  of 
loyalists  and  active  tories.  In  it  was  much  property  and 
merchandise  belonging  to  those  who  were  unfriendly  to  the 
cause  of  National  independence.  Py  a  resolution  of  Con- 
gress, adopted  June  5th,  1778,  the  Commander-in-Chief 
was  directed  to  suspend  the  removal,  sale  or  transfer  of 
goods  in  Philadelphia,  until  a  joint  commission  of  that 
body,  and  of  the  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania, 
should  determine  whether  it  was  the  property  of  the  King, 
or  any  of  his  sul)jects.  General  "Washington,  in  his  instruc- 
lions   to   General   Arnold,   dated   on    the   18th  of  June, 

1.    Irvins's  Life  of  Wnsliltigton,  Vol.  IV,  p.  22. 
li.    living's  Life  of  Wushiiigton,  Vol.  IV,  p. '.'-. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


230 


enclosed  this  resolution,  and  directed  liim  to  sec  that  the 
resolution  of  Coni^ress  was  enforced.' 

Arnold,  on  the  19th  of  June,  issued  his  proclamation,  rc- 
citini^  the  resolution  of  Congress,  the  instructions  uf  General 
AVashington,  and  ordering  the  shops  and  stores  closed. 
This  was  done  at  the  suggestion  of  leading  patriots  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  the  proclamation  was  written  by  (ieneral  lieed 
liimself,  one  of  the  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  Arnold's  chief  accuser." 

This  proclamation  Mas  an  arhitrarv  exercise  of  military 
authority,  and  produced  great  dissatisfaction,  and  rendered 
General  Arnold  personally  unpopular;  but  it  was  simply 
an  obedienc-  ^f  orders;  and  vet  this,  with  other  acts  on  liis 
])art,  led  to  the  controversy  between  him  and  the  Executive 
Council  of  the  State,  and  to  their  presenting  charges  to 
Conrjress  aijainst  him,  some  of  which  were  referred  to  a 
court-martial  for  trial,  lint  inasmuch  as  the  court-martial 
found  that  though  the  shops  and  stores  were  shut  by  Gen- 
eral Arnold's  orders,  they  were  of  opinion  that  he  was  jus- 
tified by  the  resolution  of  Congress  of  the  5th  of  June,  and 
the  Commander-in-Chief's  instructions  on  the  18th  of  June, 
these  orders  are  only  important  in  this  connection  as 
showing  the  origin  of  the  unfortunate  controversy.  It  was 
Arnold's  misfortune  that  it  became  his  duty  to  execute  an  ar- 
Tutrary  and  very  unpopular  order,  and  in  doing  so  ho  became 
the  object  of  a  personal  hostility,  which  his  own  haughty 
and  unj'ielding  temper  did  little  to  conciliate,  Ilis  style  of 
living  aggravated  the  dislike  Mdiich  his  military  orders  had 
created. 

As  stated  on  a  preceding  page,  he  kept  a  splendid  estab- 
lishment, had  his  carriages  and  horses,  gave  expensive  en- 
tertainments, and  exhil)ited  an  ostentatious  display  which 

1.    Sec  Trial  of  Arnold,  for  Rcolution  of  Congress.    Washington's  Instructions, 
etc.,  pp.  18  m, 
•J.    Arnold's  Trial -testimony  of  Miij  r  Franks. 


M 


[ 


240 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


I!-   t 


was  beyond  liis  means,  and  unbecoming  his  position.'  lie 
was  at  the  same  time  an  open  and  avowed  suitor  of  Miss 
Shippen — having  obtained  the  sanction  of  lier  father  to  his 
addresses,  and  her  family  were  Ji«»t  friendly  to  the  cause  of 
independence.  Indeed,  it  was  said  that  ''  he  hud  courted 
the  bya'ists  from  the  start."  ^ 

General  Joseph  Reed,  who  was  then  onoof  the  Executive 
Council,  and  who  led  the  State  authorities  against  Arnold, 
writing  to  General  Greene,  says:  "  Will  you  not  think  it 
extraordinary  that  General  Arnold  made  a  public  enter- 
tainment the  night  before  last,  of  which  not  only  tory 
hidies,  but  the  wives  and  daughters  of  persons  proscribed 
by  the  State,  and  now  with  the  enemy  at  2^ew  York,  fjrmed 
a  considerable  num.ber."  ^ 

Irving,  in  commenting  upon  this,  says: 

"Regarded  from  a  different  point  of  view,  this  conduct 
mijjht  have  been  attributed  to  the  courtesv  of  a  mdlant  sol- 
(lier,  Avho  scorned  to  carry  the  animosity  of  the  iield  into 
the  drawing  room,  or  to  proscribe  and  persecute  the  wives 
and  daughters  of  political  exiles."  * 

Yet  all  who  have  witnessed  the  violence  of  party  spirit 
in  time  of  war,  will  understand  how  little  such  "courtesy  " 
would  be  appreciated  by  heated  partisans,  and  how  extremely 
obnoxious  a  person  exercising  it,  would  become  in  a  city 
where  party  feeling  was  intense  and  bitter.  The  feeling 
towards  General  Arnold  growing  out  of  these  various  causes, 
became  so  hostile  and  annoying  that  he  seems  to  have 
formed  the  idea  of  retiring  from  the  army,  and  becoming  a 
large  landholder  and  leading  a  country  life.  His  approach- 
ing marriage  with  Miss  Shippen,  and  the  prospect  of  a 
liome  in  the  country  with  her,  doubdess   added  to  the  at- 

1.  TrvitiR's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  12. 

2.  Irving's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p,  11. 
a.    Irving's  Wasliington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  14. 

4.    Irving's  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  15, 


L- 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASON. 


241 


tractions  of  this  project.  His  ])laii  was  to  obtain  a  i^rant  of 
land  in  western  !Nevv  York,  and  to  establish  there  a  settle- 
ment of  the  otficers  and  soldiers  who  had  served  under  liini, 
and  with  whom  he  was  always  personally  popular,  With 
these  and  such  others  as  nii<^ht  join  the  enteri)rise,  he  hoped 
to  build  up  a  successful  settlement,  retrieve  his  pecuniary 
embarrassments,  and  realize  the  kin<l  oT  life  he  had  wit- 
nessed on  the  part  of  General  Schuyler,  and  other  lart^e  and 
wealthy  land  owners  of  Xew  York.  A  country  house  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  landed  estate,  the  buildin:^  upof  apros- 
]>erous  settlement,  was  to  him  very  attractive,  and  such  was 
his  power  over  men,  that  he  would  most  probably  have  been 
successful.  In  a  lett.'t  ^o  Schuyler  he  declares  his  ambi- 
tion is  to  be  ''a  good  citizen  rather  than  shining  in 
history." 

The  enterprise  was  submitted  to  the  delegation  in  Con- 
gress from  Xew  York,  and  to  the  pure-minded  John  Jay, 
its  President,  by  all  of  whom  it  was  cordially  approved. 
The  delegation  wrote  a  joint  letter  to  Governor  Clinton, 
requesting  his  aid  and  council  in  obtaining  the  favorable 
action  of  the  Legislature.  '-To  you.  Sir,''  they  say,  "and 
to  our  State,  General  Arnold  can  recjuire  no  recommenda- 
tion; a  series  of  distinguished  services  entitle  him  to  re- 
spect and  favor." ' 

President  Jay,  writing  to  Governor  Clinton,  said: 

"  I  wish  that  in  ti-eatins-  wilh  liiin  f  Arnokl),  they  (the  LejarisUiturc)  may 
recolU'ct  the  sin-viecs  lie  has  rciidered  to  liis  country,  and  tlie  vahie  of 
such  a  citizi'n  to  any  8tato  that  may  pain  him.  Several  otlier  ^'eneral 
otticers  have  thouffhts  of  settling  in  our  State,  and  the  prevailing  reason 
they  assign  for  it  is,  the  preference  for  our  Constitution  to  tliat  of  other 
States.  They  consider  it  as  having  the  principles  of  stability  and  vigor 
as  well  as  of  liberty;  advantages  which  tlii;  loose  and  less  guarded  kinds 
of  government  cannot  i)romise.  1  have  no  doubt  buL  that  generosity  to' 
CLnieral  Arnold  will  be  justice  to  the  Slate."  ^ 

1.  Spark's  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  i:i5. 

2.  Sjinrks'  Lil'e  of  Arnold,  p.  135. 

16 


a 


{ 


' 


242 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Alas!  who  will  not  join  in  the  regret  that  this  enter- 
prise was  not  successful,  and  this  man,  who  then  numbered 
among  his  warm  and  devoted  friends,  some  of  the  purest 
and  best  patriots  of  the  Ilevolution,  have  been  diverted 
from  the  dark  crime  which  lay  in  the  future. 

But  it  was  not  so  to  be;  while  on  his  way  to  New  York, 
in  furtherance  of  this  enterprise,  he  stop])ed  at  the  camp  of 
AVashington  on  the  Raritan,  and  there  rectMved  i!itelligence 
of  the  attack  made  upon  him  by  General  Heed  and  the 
Council  of  Pennsylvania,  aiul  of  the  charges  they  had 
printed  and  circulated  .'igainst  him,  and  he  hastily  returned 
to  meet  these  charges,  and  became  involved  in  a  long  and 
irritating  controvers}',  which  led  to  his  ruin.  From  the 
camp  of  AVashington  he  wrote  the  impassioned  letter  to 
Aliss  Shipjien,  of  February  Sth,  1779,  set  forth  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter. 

Almost  immediately  after  his  departure  from  Phila- 
delphia on  this  trip,  the  Fxecutive  Council  of  Pennsylvania 
sent  to  Congress  their  complaints  ami  grievances,  embodied 
in  eight  charges  of  misconduct  and  cul])ability  on  the  part 
of  General  Arnold,  Printed  copies  of  these  charges  were 
widely  circulated,  one  of  which  reached  him  in  the  camp  of 
Washington,  They  were  published  in  the  newspapers  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland, 

In  the  absence  of  (xeneral  Arnold,  Major  Clarkson,  his 
aid,  immediately  on  the  Sth  of  February,  published  a  card 
to  the  public,  asking  them  to  suspend  their  judgment,  "  and 
complaining  of  the  injustice  of  condemning  an  absent  man 
nnheard,"  and  of  the  cruelty  of  those  who,  having  made 
the  charges,  ordered  them  to  be  published  and  circulated 
before  trial."  General  Arnold's  first  solicitude  was  to  pre- 
vent any  stain  upon  his  honor  in  the  mind  of  Miss  Shippen, 
to  whom  he  wrote  as  before  stated.  On  the  day  following 
his  letter  to  her,  from  the  camp  at  Pari  tan,  he  sent  a  card 


1 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


243 


to  the  pul>lic,  in  whicli,  after  referring  to  his  services  in 
the  cause  of  liis  country  for  nearly  four  years,  he  complains 
of  the  "  cruel  and  malicious  charges  "  which  the  osident 
and  Council  of  Pennsylvania  had  preferred  against  him  to 
Congress;  and  also  of  their  having  ordered  cojiies  of  the 
charges  to  he  printed,  and  dispersed  through  the  several 
States,  for  the  purpose  of  prejudicing  the  minds  of  the  puh- 
lic,  while  the  nuitter  is  in  suspense.' 

The  personal  liostility  in  which  these  charges  originated 
may  be  inferred  from  the  circular  signed  by  Joseph  Heed, 
addressed  to  the  Governor  of  each  of  the  States,  enclosing 
the  charges,  and  asking  that  thev  be  communicated  to  the 
Legislature  of  each  State.  It  is  not  surprising,  I  thiiik,  in 
view  of  this  action,  that  Irving  should  call  attention  to  the 
hostility  manifested  by  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
"their  extraordinary  measure  to  prepossess  the  public  mind 
against  him.'  "Many  thought,  dispassionately,  that  the 
State  authorities  had  acted  with  extreme  harshness  towards 
a  meritorious  officer  in  widely  spreading  these  charges 
against  him  thus  in  an  unprecedented  way,  putting  a  public 
brand  upon  him." 

Arnold  promptly  requested  Congress  to  direct  a  court- 
martial  to  inquire  into  his  conduct. 

The  following  are  the  charges  preferred  against  General 
Arnold : ' 

"First — Tliat  while  in  the  cainp  of  General  Washinf?ton  at  Valley 
Forge,  last  Spi-ing,  he  f,'avo  permission  to  a  vessel  belonf^iiif,'  to  persons 
then  voluntarily  residing  in  this  city  with  the  enemy,  and  of  di>atfected 
character,  to  come  into  a  port  of  the  United  States  without  tiic  knowl- 
edge of  the  authority  of  the  State,  or  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  though 
then  present. 

"Second — In  having  shut  up  the  shops  and  stores  on  his  arrrival  in  the 

1.  See  Trial  of  Arnold,  for  cards  of  Major  Clarkson  and  General  Arnold  in  full, 
pp.  153-l.St. 

2.  Irving  s  Life  of  Wasliington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  17. 

3.  Trialof  Arnold,  pp.  5,  6,  7,  etc. 


"li  -' 


^\: 


"1 


iif 


■ 


244 


LIFE   or   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


city,  RO  as  even  to  prevent  officers  of  the  army  from  purchasingr.  while  he 
privatfly  niaile  considerable  purchases  for  his  own  benefit,  as  is  alleged 
and  believed. 

"IViirrf, — In  imposing  menial  offices  upon  the  sons  of  freemen  of  this 
State,  when  called  ibrth  by  the  desire  of  Congress  to  perform  militia 
duty,  and  when  remonstrated  to,  hereupon,  justifying  himself  in  writing, 
upon  the  ground  of  having  power  so  to  do  ;  for  that,  "when  a  citizen 
assumed"  the  character  of  a  soldier,  the  former  was  entirely  lost  in  "the 
latter;  and  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  militia  to  obey  "every  order  of 
his  aids  (not  a  breach  of  the  laws  ^nd  Constitution),  as  his  i^tje 
General's),  without  judging  of  the  'propriety  of  them.'  " 

Fourth. — For  that,  when  a  prize  was  brought  into  this  port  by  the 
Convention  brig,  of  this  State,  whereupon  a  dispute  arose  respecting  the 
capture,  which  would  otherwise,  in  great  probability,  have  been  amica- 
bly adjusted  between  the  claimants.  General  Arnold  interposed,  by  an 
illegal  and  unworthy  purchase  of  the  suit,  at  a  low  and  inadequate  price, 
as  has  been  publicly  charged  by  a  reputable  citizen;  to  which  may,  in 
some  degree,  be  ascribed  the  delay  of  justice  in  the  courts  of  Appeal, 
and  tiie  dispute  in  which  the  State  may  probably  be  involved  with  Con- 
gress hereupon. 

Fifth. — The  appropriating  the  wagons  of  this  State,  when  called  forth 
upon  a  speciid  emergency  last  autumn,  to  the  transportation  of  private 
property,  and  that  of  persons  wlio  voluntarily  remained  with  the 
enemy  last  winter,  and  were  deemed  dis.itlected  to  the  interests  and 
independence  of  America. 

",Su7/t— In  that  Congress,  by  a  resolve  of  the  21st  of  August  last, 
having  given  to  the  executive  powers  of  every  State  an  exclusive  power 
to  recommend  persons  desirous  of  going  within  the  enemy's  lines,  to  tho 
officer  there  cnnnnanding.  General  Arnold  in  order,  as  may  reasonably  be 
inferred,  to  elude  the  said  resolve,  wrote  a  letter,  as  apiwars  by  compari- 
son of  hands  and  the  declaration  of  the  intended  bearer,  n  commendatory 
for  the  above  purpose,  and  caused  his  aide-de-camp,  Major  Clarkson,  to 
sign  the  same.  But  the  said  device  not  taking  <  ilVct,  through  the  vigi- 
lance of  the  officers  at  Elizabethtown,  General  Arnold,  without  disclosing 
any  of  the  above  circumstances,  applied  to  Council  for  thcT  permission, 
which  was  instantly  refused,  the  connection,  character  and  situation  of 
the  party  being  well  known  and  deemed  utterly  improper  to  be  indulged 
with  such  permission,  thereby  violating  the  resolve  of  Congress,  and 
usurping  the  authority  of  this  Hoard. 

"  Seventh — This  Board  having  upon  the  complaint  of  several  inhabitants 
of  Chester  county,  through  the  late  Wagon-Master  General,  requested  of 
the  said  General  Arnold  to  state  the  said  transaction  respecting  the 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


24.J 


wagons,  in  order  that  thoy  miijrht  satisfy  the  complainants,  or  explain  tin- 
name  without  farther  trouble,  received  in  return  an  indecent  and  disre- 
specttul  refusal  of  any  satisfaction  whatsoever. 

"  hlijlith — The  diseoura^'i-ment  and  nejjlect  manifested  by  General  Ar- 
nold duriiiy  his  command  to  civil,  military  and  other  charactei-s  who  have 
aiUiercd  to  the  cause  of  thi'ir  country — with  an  entire  ditterent  conduct 
towards  those  of  another  character,  are  too  notorious  to  need  proof  or 
illustration.  And  if  this  connnand  lias  been,  as  is  generally  believed, 
supported  by  an  expense  of  ft'Uror  live  thousand  pounds  j)er  aiinuiu  to 
the  United  States,  wo  freely  declare  wo  shall  very  unwillingly  pay  any 
share  of  expenses  thus  incurred." 

On  the  IGtli  of  Fctbniary  (tlie  coininnnication  from 
President  lieed,  and  the  ehari^es  havitii^  lieen  referred  to  a 
connnittee)  the  letter  of  ( ieneral  Arnold,  aisking  an  investiga- 
tion, was  referred  to  the  same  committee.  This  committee 
having  been  instrncted  to  inquire  into  the  grounds  of  said 
charges,  about  the  middle  of  ^Nfarch  made  a  report  exeul- 
jiating  him  from  all  criminality  in  the  matter  charged 
siirainst  him.' 

1.    The  f()ll()\vini;  Is  a  rcfort  of  the  rommittce  in  full : 

"Ki'poit  I  f  till!  committi^e  of  Coiij^tcss  on  the  charges  exhibited  ogninst  General 
Ariiol'l  Ijy  tlie  I'rt'sidoiit  and  t'oiiiifil  of  I'ennsylviinia  : 

"The  first,  secnud,  third  and  fifth  char^'os  are  ofTeucos  triable  only  in  a  court- 
jnnrtial :  tliat  tlie  fourth  charRc  is  an  otlenee  only  of  a  civil  nature,  and  trialile  finly 
in  a  c.mrt  of  common  law  ;  tliat  the  sixlli.  seventh  and  eii;hth  eharKes  are  otl'ences 
not  triable  l)y  a  court-niartiMl  or  eimnnon  law  court,  or  subject  to  any  otlier  i)unisli 
nieiit  than  the  displeasure  of  Congress  and  the  coiisefiuences  of  it';  that  the  roni- 
niittes  are  fninished  with  eviden<'e  by  the  supreme  executive  council  on  the  liltli 
and  .sevcnili  charjj  s,  to  which  they  bes  have  to  refer^  that  the  conimittL'e  of  the 
>aid  executive  council,  thon.!,'li  rfjieatedly  applied  to,  declined  to  give  any  evi- 
dence on  tlie  rest  of  the  eliarges,  altor  fruitless  application  for  tlirce  weelcs,  during 
which  time  several  letters  passed  Ijetween  tlie  said  executive  council  and  commit 
(ee,  ill  wliich  letters  iho  su[>reme  executive  council  even  threaten  the  committee 
and  charge  them  with  partiality. 

•'Jicsnlvcd,  That  as  to  tlie  first  and  second  charges,  no  evidence  appears  tending  to 
prove  llie  same;  that  the  .said  char;:es  are  fully  explained,  and  the  appearances 
tliey  carry  of  cnminalty  fully  obviated  by  clear,  uiKinestionable  evidence.  The 
third  charge,  admitted  by  Ueneral  Arnold  in  one  instance,  to  be  transmitted  to 
the  eommander-in-(  hief.  The  fourth  charge,  there  appears  no  evidence  to  prove 
the  same,  and  that  it  is  triable  only  in  a  eoiiinnjii  law  court.  The  lilth  charge  be 
transmitted  to  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

"licsolvcd,  That  the  recommendatory  letter  in  the  sixth  charge  is  not  within  the 
(<I)irit  of  the  resolve  of  Congress,  or  an  iisnrpatiun  of  authority. 

"Rcfolvcd,  That  the  letter  in  the  seventh  charge,  though  not  in  terms  of  perfect 
civility,  yet  it  Is  not  expresied  hi  terms  of  iudiguify ;  and  that  after  the  conduct 


240 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


I 

^    \ 

i    ! 


The  first  charge  relating  to  tlio  alleged  iinprojier  issuing 
i»f  a  pass,  the  secoiul  in  regard  to  the  closing  of  the  shoj)s  of 
Philadelphia,  the  third  in  regard  to  imposing  menial  otiices 
upon  the  sons  of  freemen  i)erforming  military  duty,  and  the 
tifth,  in  regard  to  the  use  of  wagons  furnished  by  the  State 
for  the  trans])ortation  of  private  projK'rty — each  of  these, 
they  repeat,  "are  triable  only  in  a  court-martial."  The 
fourth,  which  relates  to  a  prize  and  prize-money,  the  com- 
mittee say  is  triable  oidy  in  a  court  of  common  law.  They 
add  that  the  committee  were  furnished  with  evidence  in  re- 
gard tt)  the  lifth  and  seventh  charges,  which  relate  to  the 
use  of  the  wagons  and  Arnold's  alleged  refusal  to  give  any 
explanation  thereof;  and  that  in  regard  to  the  other  charges, 
the  committee  of  the  executive  council,  tliough  repeatedly 
ai>i)lied  to,  declined  to  give  any  evidence,  after  fruitless  aj)- 
|»lieation  for  three  weeks.  They  therefore  resolved,  that  in 
I'egard  to  the  first  and  second  charges  (those  relating  to  the 
pass  and  the  use  (  f  the  wagons,)  no  evidence  ajipears  tend- 
ing to  prove  the  same;  that  the  said  charges  are  fully  ex- 
]>lained,  and  the  appearances  they  carry  of  criminality  are 
fully  obviated  by  clear  and  uncpiestionable  evidence.  In 
regard  to  the  fourth  charge  (in  relation  to  the  prize),  they 
say  there  a])]iears  no  evidence  to  prove  the  same,  and  it  is 
triable  only  in  a  common  law  court.  That  the  fifth  cliarge 
be  transmitted  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and  they 

"  liesolved,  that  the  letter  in  the  seventh  charj^e  (claimed  to  be  dis- 
respectful), though  not  in  terms  of  perfect  civility,  j'et  it  is  not  expressed 
in  terms  of  indifj^nity ;  and  that  after  the  conduct  of  the  said  supreme  exec- 
utive council  towards  General  Arnold,  and  the  unexampled  measures  they 
took  to  obtain  satisfaction,  totally  and  absolutely  preclude  all  right  to 
concessions  or  acknowledgment."  * 

of  the  said  supreme!  executive  council  towards  the  said  General  Arnold,  and  the 
unexampled  meas\ires  they  took  to  obtain  satisfaction,  totally  and  absdutely 
preclude  all  right  to  concessions  or  aclcnowledgment. 

'  liesoUrd,  On  the  eishtli  cliarge,  that  there  is  no  evidence  to  prove  the  same."— 
Arnold's  Trial  by  Court  Mwtiat.  pp.  V33A-5. 

1.  Trial  of  Arnold,  p.  13o.  See  also  Sparl£s'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  VI,  pp. 
516-517. 


HIS    PATUIOTISM    AND    HIS    TKEASOX. 


21: 


Arnold,  as  soon  as  tliis  re])ort  was  l)n»u<;lit  in,  considered 
his  name  viiulicated,  and  resi^^n  d  the  conunand  of  Phihv- 
(lel})hia,  for  whicli  he  had  ah'oady  obtained  permission  from 
Washington.  On  the  17th  of  ^larch  he  aihh-es.sed  a  letter  to 
Coni^ress,  begf,'in<ij  that  hodytcj  examine  and  decide  upon  the 
report  of  the  committee  without  delay.'  But  the  Executive 
Council  of  Pennsylvania  were  not  satisfied,  and,  although 
in  their  circular  they  had  said,  "  the  proofs  were  ready  to  be 
exhibited,  and  that  Arnold  had  departed  from  the  State, 
])ending  the  com])laiiit,"  yet  after  his  prompt  return  and 
demand  of  inquiry,  they  complained  there  had  been  a  mis- 
understanding which  prevented  them  from  presenting  their 
testimony. 

General  Heed  and  the  Executive  Council  represented  the 
great  State  of  Pei)ns3'lvania,  and  were  entitled  to  and  re- 
ceived extraordinary  consideration,  and  Congrsss,  at  their 
instance,  instead  of  acting  ujion  the  report  of  their  own 
committee  excul])ating  Arnold,  referred  the  whole  sub- 
ject to  a  joint  committee  of  that  Ijody  and  the  Council 
of  Pennsylvania.  This  joint  committee  reported  several 
resolutions  intended  to  soothe  Pennsylvania,  as  represented 
by  the  executive  committee;  and  also  recomniended  that 
the  first,  second,  third  and  fifth  charges  be  referred  to  a 
court-martial  to  be  a])pointed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief. 
Arnold  was  indignant  at  this  action,  but  said,  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  Congress  : 

"  If  Congress  have  been  induceclf  to  take  this  action  for  the  public 
good,  and  to  avoid  a  breach  with  this  State — however  hard  my  case  may 
be,  *  *  I  will  suffer  with  pleasure  until  a  court-martial  can  have  an 
opportunity  of  doing  me  justice,  by  acquitting  me  of  these  charges  a 
second  time."  * 

lie  wrote  at  once  to  "^"  '.shington,  advising  him  of  the 

1.  Trial  of  Gen.  Arnold,  pp.  i:iC-t:i7. 

2.  Letter  of  Arnold  to  Congress,  April  H,  1779~Trialp.  138. 


I 


llH,  ■!■  MXilli' 


248 


LIFE   OF   IJENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


HI 


proceedings,  conipliviniiif;  of  the  iiijuRtico  done  to  liiin,  and 
hogging  that  an  early  day  might  be  fixed  for  his  trial. 
"Washington  ordered  a  court  to  meet  on  the  first  of  May. 
The  executive  coniniittee  of  Pennsylvania  ai)|)lied  for  fur- 
ther time,  and  nuide  such  re])re8entations  as  induced  Gen- 
eral Washington  t(j  ]»ostponc  the  trial  to  June  Ist,  1770. 

Arnold,  impatient  and  chaiing  at  this  delay,  wrote  to 
"Washington,  May  5th,  saying: 

"  Dt'Iuy  is  w  >rso  tliim  (Icutli,  ami  wlion  it,  is  ( otisidt'i-pd  tliat  tlio  Presi- 
dent and  council  Inivc  luul  three  months  to  prochice  the  evidence,  1  can- 
not suppose  the  ordering  a  conrt-niartial  to  doterniino  the  matter 
immediately,  is  the  least  precipilatiii<r  it.  1  entreat  that  the  court  may 
b'J  ordered  to  sit  as  soon  as  possible."  ' 

In  a  letter  to  "Washin/jton,  written  on  the  fourteenth  of 
May,  in  which  he  expresses  his  hapi>iness  to  hear  that  tlie 
court  had  been  fixed  for  the  the  first  of  June,  he  calls  at- 
tention to  the  "cruel  situation  he  was  in,  as  his  character 
was  sufl^ering,"  and  he  was  prevented  by  it  from  joining 
the  army,  "  which  I  wish  to  do,"  says  he,  "  as  soon  as  my 
wounds  will  permit."' 

"Washington  writes  to  Reed  on  the  fifteenth  of  J^fay,  say- 
ing he  had  received  another  letter  from  Arnohl,  "  j)ressing 
for  a  speedy  trial,"  and  adding  that  "that  gentleman  has  a 
right  to  expect  from  me,  as  a  piece  of  justice,  that  his  fate 
may  be  decided,  as  soon  as  it  can  be  done  consistently  with 
a  full  and  fair  investigation." " 

On  the  same  day  he  wrote  to  Arnold: 

"  I  feel  my  situation  truly  delicate  and  emhariassintr,"  "  Your  anxiety 
— natural  under  the  circumstances — stronjjrly  urH:esme  to  bring  the  att'air 
to  a  speedy  conclusion:  on  the  other  side,  the  pointed  representations  of 
the  State,  on  the  subject  of  witnesses,  seem  to  leave  me  no  choice."* 

1.  Spnrks'  WritlnRS  of  WashinRtcn,  Vol.  VI,  p.  523. 

•2.  Sparks'  Writinssof  Wusliin^ftoii,  Vol.  VI,  p  ri2:l. 

;1.  Sparks'  WritiiiKs  of  Washiii^'tuii,  Vnl.  VI,  p.  &24. 

4.  Sparks'  Writlnt's  of  VVuahiiigtou,  Vol,  VI,  p.  024. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AXD    IIIH    TREASON. 


249 


To  tills  letter  Arnold  i)roiiij)tly  rc'])lieJ  on  the  IStli,  eny- 

ing: 

"  I  liavo  nnt  tho  lonst  doulit  of  ymir  oxrollotiry's  wishing  to  Itrinp  my 
iitTair  to  a  Hpccdy  concliisioii,  ami  ofdoiny  luo  aiiiplo  jiistii't(.  I  am  cx- 
ticmcly  sorry  my  cruel  situation  thoukl  cause  your  cxcelleiicy  tlic  It-aat 
rmbarrassmciit."  ' 

lie  tlu'H  ('fills  jitteiition  to  the  fact  tlmt  his  prosecutors 
had  had  nearly  four  months  to  i)roeure  tlieir  testimony,  ete. 

The  movements  of  the  enemy  ])revented  the  meeting  of 
the  court  in  June,  and  on  the  13tli  of  Julv,  Arnold  airain 
addressed  Washingt(»n,  asking  whether  the  situation  of  the 
army  would  not  admit  tho  court-martial  to  proceed  with 
the  trial,  and  again  begging  hiuj  to  appoint  as  early  a  day 
as  possible." 

At  length,  and  not  until  the  19th  of  December,  1TT[),  the 
('(Uii't  WHS  convened  at  j\rorristown,  Xew  Jersey,  and  con- 
tiniu'(l  in  session  until  its  llnal  judgment  was  rendered  on 
the  ti(!th  of  January,  1780,  after  nearly  a  year  of  most  irri- 
tating and  vexntious  delay,  during  every  period  of  which 
Arnold  had  begged  and  imjtlored  ])rompt  action;  he  had 
now  tli(!  satisfaction  of  meeting  before  a  court  of  brother 
ofhcers  his  accusers  face  to  face.  The  position  of  Washing- 
ton had  been  "delicate  and  embarrassing,"  but  with  his 
usual  discretion,  he  so  conducted  as  to  satisfy  both  parties 
of  his  impartiality.  The  court  was  composed  of  JMajor 
(xeneral  liobert  llowe,  of  North  Carolina,  President,  and 
Brigadier  Generals  Knox,  Maxwell  and  Gest,  and  eight 
Colonels." 

The  evidence  is  published  in  full  in  the  trial,  to  which  I 
have  already  referred,  and  occuj)ies  nearly  one  hundred 
])ages. 

1.  Spnrks'  Writin.cs  of  Wasbinston,  Vol.  VI,  p.  Me. 

2.  Sparks'  Writing-  of  Washington,  Vol.  VI,  p.  527. 
a.    Trial  of  Arnokl,  p.  2. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


ARNOLD'S    TRIAL-WASHINGTON'S   REPRIMAND. 


"Exliibit  anew  those  noble  qualities  which  liiive  pine  d  yon  on  the  list  of  OTir 
most  valued  eoniiiuuKler.s.  1  will,  luyself,  luruisli  yuu  us  I'ar  as  it  may  be  in  my 
jiiAver,  witli  the  opportunities  of  regaining  the  esteem  of  your  country." — Washing- 
ton to  Anwlil. 


: 


Abnoi.d's  Triai,  CoNTiNTKn— ITis  Dffense— Judgemknt  of  thf.  Court— Washino- 
ToN'a  Kki'kima.nu  and  j:uuxiY. 

General  Arnold  a])peai'ed  before  tlie  court  without 
couuseL  lie  conducted  liis  own  detenso,  e.\iiiniiiin<ij  his 
own  witnesses,  and  cross-e.xaiuining  those  j)roduced  by  the 
prosecution. 

The   spectacle  of  this   trial  was  not  without  a  certain 

element  of  jjathos.     The  accused  was  in  the  full  huff  and 

blue  uinforin  of  his  rank.     He  Widked  with  dithcultv,  leaninir 

u[)on   Ids    cane,    for    the  le^  brokeii    above  the   knee  at 

•Saratoga,  and  below  the  knee  at  Quebec,  still  disal)led  liiin, 

making  it  impossible  for  liini  to  ride  on  horseback,  and  he 

could  not,  therefore,  mount  the  horse  whid:  Congress  had 

jtresented  to  him  for  his  gallantry  at  lUdgefield  ;  but  he 

wore  the  epauletts  andsworddcnots  wlsieli  AVashington  had 

]>resentcd  to  him  as  among  "  the  bravest  of  the  brave  "  of 

his  generals,  and  which  he  had  received  as  a  testimony  of 

AVashington's  "sincere    regard    and    a]>]»robation   of    his 

conduct." 

(250) 


HIS    TATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


251 


Though  still  younf^,  not  having  reached  the  meridian  of 
life,  his  face  bronzed  and  darkened  by  lati<;ue  and  c.\])osiire, 
indicated  that  he  had  seen  the  severest  hardships  of  a 
soldier's  life.  ]^o  one  could  look  npon  his  weather-beaten 
features  and  his  still  crip])led  condition  without  thiukin_<i^ 
of  Ticondero<^a,  St.  Johns,  the  AVilderness,  the  Plains  of 
Abraham,  the  forlorn  lujpe  in  the  assault  on  Quebec,  Mont- 
real, the  naval  conflict  off  Valcour  Island,  liidgeiield  and 
Compo,  the  valley  of  the  ]\rohawk,  the  relief  of  Tort  Schuy- 
ler, the  battle  of  the  lOth  of  September,  near  Saratoga,  and 
tlie  last  desperate  and  bloody  charge  at  Beinis'  Heights. 

lie,  who  had  never  failed  to  share  with  his  soldiers  the 
extreme  of  everv  dano-er,  and  had  shed  his  blood  verv  freely 
for  his  country,  was  now  to  struggle  for  his  laurels,  for  his 
honor,  for  everything  which  makes  life  yaliKd)le,  against  the 
overwltelming  official  power  and  influence  of  Pennsylvania. 

lie  can  scarcely  be  blamed  for  M'ishing  to  crush  his  en- 
emies, and  he  certainly  had  a  right  to  present  the  record  of 
his  past  life,  and  to  have  the  benefit  of  all  the  presump- 
tions justly  arising  from  previous  good  conduct. 

A  man  accused  of  crime  is  never  blamed  for  ])roving  his 
previous  good  character,  to  raise  a  presum])tion  of  innocence, 
and  yet  General  Arnold  has  been  censured  aiul  sneered  at  be- 
cause he  sjjread  before  the  court  his  record  as  a  soldier,  and 
the  commendations  which  Congress  and  AVashington  had 
bestowed  upon  him. 

At  the  close  of  the  evidence  he  a(l<lress('<l  the  court  at 
o-reat  lenirth.  He  did  not  confine  himself  to  the  four 
charges  u])on  Avhich  he  \>'as  being  tried,  but  took  U])  each  of 
the  eight  which  ha<l  Itvvn  |>resented  to  Congress,  and 
attemjjted  to  make  a  full  answer  to  av^ry  one  of  them,  lie 
began  : 


II 


ll 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    AKXOLD. 


"  Mr.  rrcsidenf,  and  gentlemen  of  this  hoiiourahle  eourt: 

"  I  ajipoar  before  yon,  to  a?iswcr  charges  brought  against  me  by  the 
late  supreme  executive  council  of  the  common  wealth  of  Pennsylvania. 
It  is  disagieoable  to  be  aocnscil;  but  when  an  accusation  is  nuule,  I  feel 
it  a  great  source  of  con^^olation,  to  have  an  opportunity  of  being  tricil 
Ijy  gentlemen  whose  delicate  and  refined  sensations  of  honour  will  lead 
them  to  entertain  similar  sentiments  concerning  those  who  accuse  un- 
justly, and  those  who  are  justly  accused.  In  the  iornn'r  case,  your  feel- 
ings revolt  against  tlie  conduct  of  the  prosecutors;  in  the  latter,  against 
those  who  are  deserved  objects  of  a  jirosecution.  Whether  those  feel- 
ings will  be  directed  against  me,  or  against  those,  whose  charges  have 
brought  me  l)ctor(!  you,  will  be  known  by  your  just  and  impartial  deter- 
mination of  this  cause. 

"When  the  ])res(Mit  necessary  war  against  Dreat  Britai  i  commenced, 
I  was  in  easy  cin:unistances,  and  enjoyed  a  tair  , prospect  of  improving 
them.  I  was  happy  in  domestic  connections,  and  blessed  with  a  rising 
family,  who  claimed  my  care  and  attention.  The  litjerties  of  my  coun- 
try were  in  danger.  The  voii'e  of  my  country  called  upon  all  her  faithfnl 
sons  to  join  in  her  defence.  AVith  cln'crfulness  I  olx'ved  the  call.  I  sac- 
rificed domestic  ease  and  happiness  to  the  service  of  .ny  country,  and  in 
her  service  have  I  sacrificed  a  great  part  of  a  handsome  fortune.  I  was 
oni^  of  the  first  that  appeared  in  the  field,  ami  Irom  that  time,  to  the 
present  hour,  have  not  abandoned  her  service. 

■'  \\  hen  niic  is  charged  with  practices  which  his  soul  abhors,  and  which 
conscious  innocence  tells  him  he  has  never  committed,  an  honest  indig- 
nation will  draw  trom  him  expressions  in  his  own  lavour,  which,  on  other 
occasions,  might  be  ascribed  to  an  ostentatious  turn  of  mind.  The  part 
which  I  have  acted  in  the  American  cause,  has  been  acknowh^dged  by 
our  friends,  and  by  our  enemies,  to  have  been  far  from  an  indifferent  one. 
My  time,  my  fortune,  and  my  person  have  been  devoted  to  my  country, 
in  this  war;  and  if  the  sentiments  of  those  who  are  supreme  in  the  Tni- 
ted  States,  in  civil  and  military  affairs,  are  allowed  to  have  any  weight, 
my  time,  my  fortune,  and  my  person  have  not  been  devoted  in  vain. 
You  will  indulge  me,  gentlemen,  while  I  lay  before  you  some  honoralile 
testimonies,  which  congress,  and  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  armies 
of  the  United  States,  have  been  pleased  to  give  of  my  conduct.  The 
place  where  I  now  stand  justifies  me  in  producing  them." 

He  then  read  to  the  court  some  of  the  complimentary 

letters  of  Washin<;ton,  and  anionic  others,  the  one  present- 

inej  him  with  epaulets  and  sword-knots  "as  a  testimony 

of  his  sincere  regard  and  approbation;"  also  Washington's 


'i 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND    HIS    TREASON. 


2o^ 


o 


letters  to  Congress,  requesting  that  body  to  send  liiin  to  the 
Xorthern  Dejiartnient  to  repel  ]jiirgoyne,  because  ho  "wasi 
"active,  judicious  and  brave,"  and  an  "  officer  in  whom  the 
militia  had  great  confidence." 

He  also  read  the  proceedings  of  Congress,  directing  that 
he  be  presented  with  "  a  horse  properly  caparisoned."  etc., 
for  "his  gallant  conduct  at  Hidgelield;"  also  the  resolu- 
tion of  thanks  passed  by  Congress  for  his  brave  and  success- 
ful efforts  in  the  capture  of  Burgoync.  After  this  review 
of  his  military  career,  he  asked  whether  it  was  ])r()bable, 
after  having  gained  these  favorable  opinions,  he  should  all 
at  once  sink  into  a  course  of  conduct  "e(|ually  unworthy  of 
a  patriot  and  a  soldier?"  After  alhuling  to  the  lu!ig  and 
cruel  delays  in  obtaining  a  trial,  caused  l>y  his  persecut  -s, 
he  expressed  his  sanguine  hopes  of  being  able  to  satisfy  the 
court,  and  through  its  judgment,  the  world,  that  the 
charges  against  him  were  "  false,  malicious  and  scandalous." 

lie  then  took  up  and  examined  the  charges,  one  by  one. 
Tlic  first,  in  regard  to  granting  ]irotection  tor  a  vessel  to 
sail  into  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  it  is  stated,  as  a 
])art  of  the  charge,  that  it  was  given  "without  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Commander-in-Chief." 

After  justifying  the  giving  the  pass,  adverting  to  that 

])art  of  the  charge  relative  to  Washington,  he  says  : 

"  I  think  it  peculiarly  unfortunate  that  the  armies  of  tlie  United  F.'tates 
have  a  gentleman  at  tlieir  head  who  knows  so  little  about  his  own  hon- 
our, or  reijfards  it  so  little,  as  to  lay  the  president  and  counei!  of  Pennsyl- 
vania under  the  necessity  of  stepping  forth  in  its  defence,  perhaps  it  may 
he  of  use  to  hint, 

"Xon  tali  auxilio  egct,  nee  drfensoribus  intis. 

"  TI.e  general  is  invested  with  power,  and  he  possesses  spirit  to  cheek 
and  to  punish  every  instance  of  disrespect  shewn  to  his  authority;  Imt 
he  will  not  ]irostitutc  his  power  by  exerting  it  upon  a  trifling  occasion; 
lar  less  will  he  pervert  it  when  no  occasion  is  given  at  all." 

In    regard    to    tliat   ])art  of  the   second   charge,    which 

alleges  that  while  he  prohibited    others  from   ])urchasing 


:'  .hie) 


254 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


■  I! 


^ocxls,  lie  liiniself  privately  made   purcliases  for  his  own 
benefit,  "  as  is  allei^ed  and  believed,"  he  says  : 

"If  this  is  true,  I  stand  confessod  in  the  presence  of  this  Honor- 
able Court  the  vilest  of  men;  I  stand  stipuiatiz:'d  with  indelible  disf^i-aee, 
the  disgrace  of  having?  abused  an  appointment  of  hi{?h  trust  and  impor- 
tance, to  accomplish  the  meanest  and  most  unworthy  purposes:  the  blood 
I  have  spent  in  defence  of  my  country,  will  be  insutti('ieut  to  oblitjrate 
the  stain. 

"But  if  this  part  of  the  case  is  void  of  truth;  if  it  has  not  even  the 
semblance  of  trutii,  what  shall  I  say  of  my  accusers?  what  epithets  will 
chara<;terize  their  conduct,  the  sentence  of  this  honourable  court  will  soon 
determine. 

"*  *  Who  '  alledffe  and  heJicre'  this  accusation?  None,  I  trust, 
but  the  president  and  council  of  Pennsylvania;  because,  I  trust,  none  else 
would  alledfye  and  believe  anything^  teiidinfj  to  ruin  a  character,  without 
sufficient  evidence.  Where  is  the  evidence  of  this  accusation?  I  call 
upon  my  accusers  to  produce  it:  I  call  upon  them  to  produce  it,  under 
the  pain  of  being  held  forth  to  the  world,  and  to  posterity,  upon  the 
proceedings  of  this  court,  as  public  defamers  and  murderers  of  reputa- 
tion." 

After  examining  the  proof  against  him  on  this  charge, 

he  says  : 

"  On  the  honor  of  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier,  I  dechu'o  to  gentlemen 
and  soldiers,  it  is  false." 

He  adds  : 

"  Tf  I  made  considerable  purchases,  consi(l(M'able  sales  must  have  been 
made  to  mo  by  some  jierson  in  t'liiladclpiiia.  Why  arc.  not  these  persons 
produced?  Have  my  prosecutors  so  little  power  and  influence  in  that 
city,  as  to  be  unable  to  furnish  evidence  of  the  truth  ?" 

*  *  *  *  "  I  flatter  myself  the  time  is  not  far  off,  when,  by  the 
glorious  estaldishment  of  our  independence,  I  shall  again  return  into  the 
mass  of  citizens:  'tis  a  period  I  look  forAvard  to  with  anxiety;  I  shall 
then  cheerfully  submit  <as  a  citizen,  to  be  governc<l  by  the  same  principle 
of  subordination,  which  has  been  tortured  into  a  wanton  exertion  of  arbi- 
trary power. 

"  This  insinuation  comes,  in  my  opinion,  with  an  ill  grace  from  the 
stfite  of  Pennsylvania,  in  whose  more  immediate  defence  I  sacrificed  my 
feelings  as  a  soldier,  when  I  conceived  them  incompatible  with  the  duties 
of  a  citizen,  and  the  welfare  of  that  state. 

"  liy  a  resolution  of  congress,  I  found  myself  superseded  (in  conae- 


i  I 


Ills   PATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


255 


quonce  of  a  new  nioilo  of  appointment  of  general  officers)  by  several  who 
were  niyjmiiors  in  service;  those  who  know  the  feelinffs  of  an  othcer, 
(whfse  utmost  ambition  is  the  go'd  opinion  of  his  country)  must  jntlge 
what  my  sensations  were  at  this  appari-nt  mark  of  neglect.  I  repaired 
to  the  city  of  Philaclelphia  in  the  month  of  May,  1777,  in  order  either  to 
attain  a  restoration  of  my  rank,  or  a  permission  to  resign  my  commis- 
sion; during  this  interval,  the  van  of  General  Howe's  army  advanced, 
by  a  rapid  march,  to  Somerset  court  house,  with  a  view^  (as  was  then  gen- 
erally supposed)  to  penetrate  to  the  city  of  i'hiladelphia. 

"  Notwithstanding  I  had  been  superseded,  and  my  feelings  as  an  offi- 
cer wounded,  yet,  on  finding  the  state  was  in  imminent  danger  from  the 
designs  of  the  enemy,  I  sacrificed  those  feelings,  and  with  alacrity  put 
myself  at  the  head  of  the  militia,  who  wore  collected  to  oppose  the  ene- 
my, determined  to  exert  myself  for  the  benefit  of  the  public,  although  I 
conceived  myself  injured  by  their  represcniatives.  How  far  the  good 
countenance  of  the  militia  under  my  command  operated,  in  deterring 
(General  Howe  from  marching  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  I  will  not  pre- 
tend to  say;  certain  it  is.  he  altered  his  route. 

"  What  returns  I  have  met  with  from  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  I 
leave  to  themselves  to  judge,  in  the  cool  hour  of  reflection,  which  (not- 
withstanding the  phreuzy  of  party,  and  the  pains  so  industriously  taken 
to  support  a  clamour  against  me)  must  sooner  or  later  arise." 

Thus,  he  went  through  each  charge  in  detail,  and  in 
replying  to  the  eighth  and  last,  which  charged  hini  with 
neiriectinii'  the  friends  of  his  country  and  bestowing  his 
attentions  and  courtesies  on  its  enemies,  he  says  : 

"  I  am  not  sensible.  Mr.  President,  of  having  neglected  any  gentle- 
men, either  in  the  civil  or  military  line,  who  have  adhered  to  the  cause 
of  their  country,  and  who  have  put  it  into  my  power  to  take  notice  of 
them;  with  respect  to  gentlemen  in  the  civil  Mm  and  army,  I  can  appeal 
to  the  candour  of  coiifrr.'ss  and  to  the  army,  as  scarcely  a  day  passed  but 
many  of  both  were  entertained  by  nn-;  thi^y  are  the  best  judges  of  my 
company  and  conduct. 

"  With  resjiect  to  att 'ntion  to  those  of  an  ojijiosife  character.  T  have 
paid  none  but  such,  as  in  my  situation,  was  justifiable  on  the  principles 
of  common  humanity  and  iioliteiiess.  Tiie  president  and  council  of  Penn- 
sylvania will  pardon  me.  if  1  cannot  divest  myst'if  of  lumianity,  merely 
out  of  complaisance  to  them. 

"It  is  enough  for  me,  Mr.  President,  to  contend  with  men  in  the  field; 
I  have  not  yet  learned  to  cariy  on  a  warfare  against  iroiiifii,  or  to  consider 
every  man  as  disaffected  to  our  glorious  cause,  who,  from  an  opposition 


2oG 


LIFE   01-    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Vi 


1 


I      i ' 


in  sonlimonf  fo  tliose  in  powor  in  tlio  stiito  of  Ponnsylvania,  may,  by  tlio 
rhnnoiir  of  par/i/,  he  sliled  n  for;/;  it  is  well  known,  that  this  odious  aji- 
liclliition  lias,  in  tiiat  stato  bron  applied  by  some,  indiscriminately,  to 
several  of  illustrious  character,  both  in  the  civil  and  military  line. 

"On  this  occasion  I  think  I  maybe  allowed  to  say.  without  vanity, 
that  my  conduct,  from  tlie  eariii'st  period  of  tiie  war  to  tiie  jiresent  time, 
has  been  steady  and  uniform.  1  have  ever  obeyed  the  calls  of  my  coun- 
try, and  stejiped  forth  in  her  defence  in  every  hour  of  daiij^er,  when  many 
were  desert  ill  j,r  her  cause,  which  appeared  desperate:  1  have  often  bled 
in  it;  tiie  marks  that  I  bear,  are  sulficient  evidence  of  my  conduct.  The 
impartial  ]iublic  will  judj,fe  of  my  services,  and  whether  the  returns  that 
]  have  met  with  are  not  tinctured  with  the  basest  infrratitnde.  Conscious 
of  my  own  innocence,  and  the  unworthy  me' hods  taken  to  injure  ni"",  1 
can  with  bohlness  say  to  my  persecutors  in  general,  and  to  the  cliiif  of 
them  ill  particular,  that  in  the  hour  of  ihaiqi  r,  when  the  aft'airs  of  Amer- 
ica wore  a  gloomy  (li^pcct,  when  our  illustrious  ^'eiieral  was  retre:\tiii^' 
through  New-Jersey,  with  a  handful  of  men,  I  did  not  propose  to  my 
associates,  basely  to  quit  the  general,  and  sacrifice  the  cause  of  my  coun- 
try to  my  personal  safety,  l)y  going  over  to  the  enemy,  and  making  my 
jieace.  I  can  say  I  never  basked  in  the  sunshine  of  my  general's  favour, 
and  courted  him  to  his  face,  when  I  was  at  the  sr.me  time  treating  him 
with  , the  greatest  disrespect,  and  villifying  his  character  when  absent. 
This  is  more  than  a  ruling  member  of  the  council  of  the  .state  of  renn- 
sylvania  can  say,   '  as  it  is  alleged  and  heliered,'  "  ^ 

lie  concluded  as  follows  : 

''I  have  now  gone  tlirough  all  the  charges  exhibited  against  nv',  ami 
have  given  to  each  such  an  answer  as  I  thought  it  deserved.  Arc  they 
all,  or  any  of  them  supported  by  truth  and  evidence?  or  rather,  does  not 
each  of  them  appear  to  this  honourable  court  to  be  totally  destitute  of 

1.  TIio  above  nlliisioii  to  rrcs'Mii.i  Keod  Is  cxpla'nod  by  tho  Ptalement  of  Gen- 
John  f'ailwaladcr,  in  his  rojily  to  Heirl,  pnlilislicd  in  riiiladelphia  in  178:1. 

lie  .eavs:  "Arnold  liavinp;  rectived  his  information  fabout  Gen.  Kccd).  from  me, 
wlien  he  (Arnold^  apoloj,'iseii  to  i.ie  for  inserting;  it  in  his  defence  without  my  per- 
mission. I  reiiiarlicd  tliat  an  apolojiy  was  iin necessary,  from  tlie  pul)li('  iiiaimer  in 
wliieli  lie  mentioned  it.  Arnold  was  eoinniandin;jr  in  tliis  eity:  very  Keiicrally  vis- 
ited by  the  olVuers  of  tlie  army,  citizens  and  strangers.  I  received  the  usual  civil- 
ities from  himand  returned  them,  and  often  met  him  at  the  tablesof  Kentlemcii  of 
this  city.  To  my  civilities,  at  that  time,  I  tlioUKlit  him  entitled,  from  the  signal 
services  lie  had  ren  lerc<l  the  country;  services  inllnit-'ly  ,snpL'rior  to  those  you 
boast  of.  lie  stood  high  as  a  military  character,  even  in  France,  and  even  after 
your  persecution  he  was  continued  in  command  by  Congress;  aiipointed  lirst  by  the 
Oommander-in-Chicf,  to  the  left  wing  ol  the  army,  and  al'terwards  to  the  important 
jios!  of  Wc^t  Point,  where  his  treacherous  conduct  exceeded,  I  fancy,  even  your 
ideas  of  his  baseness."— t'arfa'a^arftr's  Rii>ly  to  Jlcal,  i>.  I  i:i. 


» 


?aiS    PATRIOTISM    AND    IIIS    TREASON. 


257 


every  somblancc  of  a  foundation  in  fact?  and  yet  baseless  as  tliey  them- 
selves are,  they  were  intended  to  support  a  fabric  with  the  weif,'ht  of 
which  attempts  were  made  to  crush  my  reputation  and  fortunes:  I  al- 
lude to  the  preliminary  resolution  of  the  council,  containing  severe  but 
fj^eneral  strictures  upon  my  character  and  conduct;  strictures  of  such  a 
serious  and  important  nature,  that  they  themselves  were  sensible  the 
public  would  not  think  them  justified  in  makinjr  them,  nidess  upon  the 
most  unquestionable  grounds.  Let  them  now  be  measured  by  their  own 
standard.  Had  they  unquestionable  grounds  to  go  upon?  Why  then, 
in  opposition  to  every  principle  of  candour  and  justice,  in  opposition  to 
their  own  ideasof  candour  and  justice,  did  they  make  and  publish  resolu- 
tions, containing  censures  of  such  a  high  import  against  me? 

"An  artful  appearance  of  tenderness,  and  regard  for  my  services,  l)y 
which  the  council  are  pleased  to  say,  I  formcylij  distinguished  myself,  is 
held  forth  in  the  introduction  to  their  charges.  Did  they  mean  Ijy  this 
to  pour  balsam,  or  to  pour  poison  into  my  wounds?  I  leave  it  to  this 
court,  and  to  the  world  to  judge,  whether  they  intended  it  to  balance  the 
demerits  they  then  urged  a.',Minst  me,  by  my  former  good  conduct,  as  far 
as  it  would  go;  or  whether  they  designed  it  as  a  sting  to  their  charges, 
by  persuading  the  pulilic,  that  my  demerits  were  so  enormous,  that  even 
the  greatest  and  most  unalfectod  tenderness  for  my  character,  would  not 
excuse  them  in  continuing  silent  any  longer. 

"  If,  in  the  course  of  my  defence,  I  have  taken  up  the  time  of  the  court 
longer  than  they  expected,  they  will,  I  trust,  impute  it  to  the  nature  of 
the  accusations  against  me;  many  of  which,  though  not  immediately  be- 
fore you  as  charges,  were  alledged  as  facts,  and  were  of  such  a  complex- 
ion as  to  render  it  necessary  to  make  some  observations  upon  them;  be- 
cause they  were  evidently  calculated  to  raise  a  prejudice  against  me,  not 
only  among  the  people  at  large,  but  in  the  minds  of  those  who  were  to  be 
my  judges. 

"  I  have  looked  forward  with  pleasing  anxiety  to  the  present  day, 
when,  by  the  judgment  of  my  fellow  soldiers,  I  shall  (I  doubt  not)  stand 
honourably  acquitted  of  all  the  charges  brought  against  me,  and  again 
share  with  them  the  glory  and  danger  of  this  just  war." 

On  the  22nd  of  January,  1798,  tlie  Judge  Advocate,  in 
reply  to  General  Arnold's  address,  stated  the  evidence  in. 
rehition  to  every  charge,  and  submitted  the  case.  On  the 
26th  the  court  met  and  announced  their  final  judgment. 
After  stating  that  they  had  caref.lly  considered  the  several 
charges,  the  evidence,  and  the  defense,  they  decided,  first: 
17 


M 


ti!:'?; 


258 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    AIIXOLD. 


that  tlic  permission  Arnold  hud  given  for  a  vessel  to  k-ave 
a  port  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  to  enter  a  port  in  the 
United  States,  was  illegal.  In  regard  to  the  second  charge, 
that  of  the  order  closing  the  shops  and  stores  of  riiiladel- 
phia,  the  court  decided  that  lie  was  justified  in  doing  so  l»y 
the  resolution  of  Congress  and  by  the  instructions  of  Gen- 
eral AVashington;  and  in  regard  to  the  latter  part  of  the 
same  charge,  that  of  making  ])urchase3  for  his  own  benefit, 
they  say  they  "are  clearly  of  opinion  that  it  is  ffnst/j>- 
ported^  and  they  dofidhj  acquit  General  ArnoldP 

They  also  acquit  of  the  third  charge  (that  of  imposing 
menial  offices  on  the  military).  Resiiecting  the  fourth 
(Hiarge  (relating  to  the  use  of  the  wagons)  the  court  say, 
"  It  appears  that  General  Arnold  made  apjdication  to  the 
(Quartermaster-General,  to  supply  him  with  wagons  to  iv- 
inove  property  in  imminent  danger  from  the  enemy;  tiiat 
the  wagons  were  su])plied  on  this  a]>plication,  which  had 
been  drawn  from  the  State  of  l*ennsylvaiiia  for  the  public 
servM'ce,  and  that  General  Arnold  intended  this  a|)])li('ation 
as  a  ])rivatc  request,  and  had  no  design  of  em])loylng  the 
wagons  otherwise  than  at  his  own  ]»rivate  exj)ense,  nor  of 
defrauding  the  public,  nor  of  injuring  or  impeding  the 
puhlic  service:  hut  considering  the  di'licacy  attending  the 
high  station  in  which  he  acted,  and  that  requests  from  him 
might  operate  as  commands,  the  court  were  of  opinion  the 
rcipiest  was  imprudent  aiul  improper,  and  therefore  ought 
not  to  have  been  made."  The  com't  sentenced  him  to  le- 
ceive  a  reprimand  from  the  Commander-in-Chief.' 

It  M'ill  be  observed  that  the  court  exonerate  and  acquit 
General  Arnold  of  all  intentional  wrong,  expressly  declaring 
that  the  charge  of  making  ])urchases  for  his  own  benefit  was 
entirely  unsupported,  and  they  therefore  "  fully  acquit  him  ;" 
and  that,    in  tlie   nse   of  the   wagons,    that   it  was    don.e 

1.    Sec  jiulgment  iu  fuU,  Arnold's  Trial,  pp.  lll-O. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TIIEASOX. 


201) 


"without  any  desi<^n  ofdetriiiidiiig  the  public  or  iinpediuf^ 
tlie  public  service." 

The  charf^e  of  malciu"^  purchases  for  liis  own  benefit, 
notwithstandiiifij  the  declaration  of  the  court  that  it  was 
"  clearly  their  oi)inion  that  it  was  entirelj'unsnpjxirtctl,  iuul 
their  full  acquittal,"  has  been  repeated  and  reiterated  in 
most  of  the  histories  of  the  war  of  the  lievolution.  1 
submit  that  the  judu^ment  of  the  court  after  a  month's  most 
thorouij^h  investigation,  with  a  prosecution  zealous,  active, 
and  bitter,  and  with  the  whole  power  and  influence  of  tlu^ 
State  authorities  to  aid,  that  the  juilij^inent  of  the  court, 
after  an  imestiiration  so  searchinir  an<l  exhaustive,  ouirht 
to  be  ref;;arded  as  final  and  conclusive. 

In  rei^ard  to  the  fourth  charge,  relating  to  tlic  prize  of 
the  sloop  "Active,"  it  seems  to  nie  the  answer  of  General 
Arnold  is  complete.  By  a  statement  of  his  found  among 
the  "Shijipen  Papers,"  it  appears  that  the  original  captors 
were  from  Connecticut,  his  native  State,  and  that  they 
applied  to  him  for  aid  in  securing  their  rights,  and  that  he 
did  aid  them  by  his  ])urse  and  advice,  and  that  in  the  Court 
of  Appeals  they  succeeded  by  a  unanimous  vote  as  against 
Pennsylvania.  These  claimants  were  poor,  and  to  secure 
Irimself  for  necessary  advances,  Arnold  purchased  an 
interest  in  their  claim.  He  may  liave  done  this  from 
motives  of  kindness  to  the  claimants,  or  as  a  speculation. 
If  he  took  adviintago  of  their  necessities  to  obtain  the 
interest  for  less  than  its  value,  he  certainly  did  MTong;  but 
occupying  the  high  and  delicate  otKcial  position  he  did  in 
the  State  of  Pennsvlvania,  he  ought  to  have  declined 
having  anvthing  to  do  witli  the  controversv.  Put  there 
was  nothing  necessarily  involving  his  integritj'in  the  trans- 
action, and  so  upon  the  whole  I  think  the  judgment  of 
Washinjxton  Irving  will  be  concurred  in  bv  all  candid  and 
fair  judges   who   attentively  consider  the  question.     "]N^o 


I 


i 


[\ 


2G0 


LIFE   OF    BENKDICT   ARNOLD. 


turpitude  had  heoii  proved  against  liim,  — his  Lrilliant 
exploits  plied  a  s[)len(lur  around  his  name,  and  he  aj)j)eared 
hetbre  the  puhlic  a  soldier  crippled  in  their  service.  All 
these  should  have  pleade<l  in  his  lavur— should  luvve 
])roduced  indulycnco  of  his  errors,  and  niiti<^ated  that 
animosity  which  he  always  contended  had  heen  the  cause  ot" 
his  ruin."  * 

The  result  vtf  uiia  trial  may  be  summed  up  in  a  few 
words.  Arnold  was  fully  exonerated  and  acquitted  of  all 
intentional  wrong;  of  all  private  speculation;  the  court 
finding  he  had  no  design  of  defrauding  or  injuring  the  pub- 
lic; but  the  pass  he  had  issued  was  "irregular"  and  "ille- 
gal;" and  idle  public  wagons,  without  impeding  the  public 
service,  ha<l  been  used  to  remove  ])roperty  in  imminent 
danger  from  the  enemy,  which  they  say,  in  their  opinion, 
"was  imprudent  and  im])ropcr."  These  errors  Irving 
justly  characterises  as  "  venial."  The  finding  of  the  court 
was  approved  by  Congress.  The  sentence,  im])lying  to  a 
sensitive  soldier  the  idea  of  guilt  and  public  disgrace,  must 
have  been  yielded  as  a  concession  to  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, for  certainly  it  was  a  non-sequ'itor  to  the  verdict  of 
the  court  expressly  exonerating  him  from  all  intentional 
wrong,  and  such  finding  would  not  demau.l  a  punishment 
so  severe. 

He  had  confidently  expected  a  full  acquittal.  lie  had 
closed  his  defense  by  saying,  with  deep  feeling :  "  I  have 
looked  forward  with  pleasing  anxiety  to  the  ])resent  daj', 
when,  by  the  judgment  of  my  fellow  soldiers  I  shall  (I 
doubt  not)  stand  honorably  ac(|uitted  of  all  the  charges 
brouirht  against  me,  and  again  share  with  them  the  glory 
and  the  danger  of  this  just  war."  When,  therefore,  he  was 
so  severely  sentenced,  he  was  astounded.  It  was  an  unex- 
pected, a  terrible,  a  fatal  blow.     I  cannot  resist  the  conclu- 

1.    Irving's  Life  of  Wasliington,  Vol,  IV,  p.  23. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASON. 


201 


sion  that,  if  he  had  l)cen  hoiu»i'ably  disch arched,  as  he  had  a 
ri^ht  to  expect  when  the  court  ae(|uitted  him  of  all  inten- 
tional wronn^,  and  found  that  he  had  "no  dcsiij^n  of 
defraudin;jj  the  public,"  he  would  f,'ladly  an<l  eagerly  have 
joined  General  Washington;  have  accepted  the  ]>osition  of 
second  in  command,  soon  to  be  olVered  him,  and  shared 
with  his  great  chief  in  the  "danger  and  the  glory  of  the 
war."  I  say  this,  not  unmindfid  that  he  had  probably 
before  this  time  listened  to  secret  overtures  from  the  ene- 
my— j)erhapsheld  secret  correspondence  with  him;  butwhilc 
he  was  already  guilty  of  having  listened  to  and  encouraged 
their  overtures,  he  was  not  yet  irretrievably  lost.' 

No  alternative  o?i  the  part  of  Washington  was  left  but 
]»ublicly  to  reprinuxnd  and  disgrace  a  favorite  ofheer. 
Nothing;  can  be  conceived  more  honorable  to  the  generous 
feelings  of  Washington,  more  delicate  towards  the  wounded 
])ride  of  Arnold,  than  the  reprimand. 

"  Our  profession  is  the  chastest  of  all ;  even  the  shadow 
of  a  fault  tarnishes  the  Instre  of  our  finest  achievements. 
The  least  inadvertence  may  rob  us  of  the  ])ublic  favor,  so 
hard  to  be  acquired.  I  reprimand  you  for  having  forgotten 
that  in  proportion  as  you  have  rendered  yourself  formidable 
to  our  enemies,  you  should  have  been  guarded  and  tem- 
perate in  your  deportment  t  a'ds  your  fellow-citizens. 
Exhibit  anew  those  noble  rpialities  which  have  placed  you 
on  the  list  of  our  most  valued  commanders,  I  will  myself 
furnish  you,  as  far  as  it  may  be  in  my  jxjwer,  with  oppor- 
tunities of  regaining  the  esteem  of  your  country."  " 

1.  In  the  manuscript  copy  of  (iencral  Clinton's  report  to  Lord  Geo.  Germnin. 
flatcd  Oct.  11, 1'SO,  he  says:  "About  eiKlitecn  months  since,  I  hail  some  reason  to 
<'onchule  that  the  American  Major  General  Arnold  was  desirous  of  quitting  tlic 
rebel  service  and  joininK  the  eau.se  of  Great  Hritain." 

Tliis  is,  .so  far  as  I  know,  tlio  most  direct  evidence,  tending  to  show  the  date  of  the 
beginingof  the  criminal  negotiations. 

2.  "  Nor  is  there  an  opr>or'unily  of  acquiring  honor,  which  I  can  shai)c  for  you, 
to  which  as  it  (jccurs  I  will  not  gladly  prefer  you.— .Vco«'s  Cuunt  liobert,  uj  J'u.ris,  to 
Jlenward,  p.  aoi. 


!0 


1 


2G2 


LIFE  OF   UENEDICT   AllNOLD. 


I  I 


This  reprimand  has  been  luuch  julmired  in  Enrope,  as 
well  !i8  in  Aiiicrica,  Certiiinlv  notliin}'  in  the  writin":H  of 
AVurihiii:,'ton  id  more  beuutit'iil  in  l;iii;;uii<^e,  more  generoU8 
and  nublo  in  Bentinient.  J  lis  words  are  those  of  one 
brotlier-soldier  to  another,  conij)elled  to  inllict  ])ain  which 
lio  obvionsly  thinks  undeserved. 

In  readini^  it,  it  is  somewhat  difhcnlt  to  say  for  what  of- 
fence AV^ashin^^ton  rei)rimands  Arnold.  Was  it  for  "the 
shadow  of  a  fault  ?"  or  ''an  inadvertence  ?"  Literally  be- 
cause, "as  you  have  rendered  yourself  formidable  to  our 
enemies,  you  should  have  been  <j^uarded  and  temj)erate  in 
your  deportment  towards  your  fellow-citizens."  IJut  it  ia 
not  difficult  to  see  for  what  virtues  AVashiiii^ton  honored 
the  object  upon  whom  he  was  compelled  to  inflict  disgrace. 
lie  hastens  to  say  "exhibit  anew  those  noble  (jualities  which 
have  ]>laced  you  on  the  list  of  our  most  valued  comnuind- 
ers;  I  will  myself  furnish  you  the  o])portunities."  If  AVash- 
ington  could  liave  sent  him  at  once  into  some  terrible  bat- 
tle, to  lead  some  "forlorn  hoi)e,"  or  on  any  desperate  enter- 
])rise,  where  death  or  victory  could  have  been  sought, 
Arnold  might  have  been  saved;  might  have  again  shared 
with  Ins  comrades  "  the  glory  and  the  danger  of  a  just  war." 

AVhat  the  public  opinion  of  the  peo])le  and  of  the  army 
was-  in  regard  to  this  sentence  of  the  court,  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  proceedings  of  the  Executive  Council  of 
Pennsylvania.  On  the  3d  of  February,  1780,  the  follow- 
ing action  seems  to  have  been  extorted  from  his  prosecu- 
tors by  the  indignation  of  the  army  and  the  people  at  the 
sentence.  "  AVe  do  not"  say  they  "  think  it  proper  to  uflec . 
ignorance  of  what  is  the  subject  of  public  conversation,  and 
the  sentence  of  the  court-martial  tending  to  impose  a  mark 
of  reprehension  upon  General  Arnold.  AVe  find  his  sulfer- 
ings  for,  and  services  to,  his  country  so  deeply  impressed 
upon  our  minds  as  to  obliterate  every  opposing  sentiment, 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


2g;] 


:uh1  tlieivtiiro  l)Og  leave  to  re(iiio?t  that  (.\)n«;ress  will  be 
j>leased  to  dispense  with  tin-  part  of  the  sentence  which  ini- 
l»Kse9  a  ])ublic  censure,  and  may  most  alFect  the  feelings  vt' 
a  Itr.ivo  and  gallant  (»tHc'er.'" 

JJut  Ci»ngi'e.ss  did  not  nio'lify  the  sentence,  and  Arnold 
was  ])nl>licly  disgracrd.  The  feelings  of  Washington 
towards  him  are  described  in  a  letter  from  Schuyler  to 
Arnold,  dated  June  2nd,  17S(>.  "He  (^Washington)  says 
Schuyler,  "  e.\j)ressed  a  desire  to  do  whatever  was  agreea- 
ble to  you;  dwelt  on  your  abilities,  your  merits,  your  sntler- 
ings,  and  on  the  well  earned  claims  you  have  on  your  co\in- 
try.  *  *  *  Jle  expressed  hims  If  with  regard  to  you  in 
terms  such  as  the  triends  who  love  vou  could  wish.'''' 


"MOIlUI-TdWN,  Juiio  2,  17SI'. 


1.  Trial  of  Arnold  p.  1C8. 

2,  Tlio  following  is  llie  letter  in  full : 

"  My  di'ak  Sir  : 

"The  letter  which  I  did  myself  the  plcnsurc  to  write  you  on  tlie  llth  of  May,  you 
liiiil  not  rc'C'oivo'l  wlien  yours  of  tlus  J"'!!!  u'lis  written.  In  tlmt  I  a  lvi^('ll  you  tliiil 
I  liiiil  ('(puvcrsoii  Willi  tlie  (ieiicral  on  the  >ul)j('it  whicli  ])ns-o(l  hfiwccn  ns  IxMorc  1 
left  riiiliulclpliiii ;  tlmt  lie  iijipeiiroil  nnileciileil  on  the  oeeasion,  I  lielieve  Ijeettuse 
no  iirningenient  was  nuidc,  for  he  expressed  himself  with  rej,'ard  to  ynu  in  term* 
such  as  the  friends  who  love  you  could  wish.  Wlien  I  received  yours  of  tlie  2')th 
May,  I  read  it  to  hiiu  ;  he  was  rimch  ingaKed  ;  next  day  he  reiiuested  to  know  the 
contents  again.  I  put  it  into  his  liands  ;  lie  expresse<l  a  desire  to  do  whatever  was 
a!,'reable  to  you,  dwelt  on  your  abilities,  your  merits,  y  lur  sullerin','s,  and  on  the 
well  earned  claims  you  have  on  your  country,  and  intimated  that  as  soon  as  his 
arrangements  for  the  eiimpaiKn  should  take  place,  that  he  would  jiroperly  consider 
you.  I  believe  you  will  liave  an  alternative  proposed,  either  to  lake  (•liar;,'e  of  an 
important  post,  witli  anhoiioralile  command,  or  your  station  in  the  held.  \onr 
rciiutation,  my  dear  sir,  so  establisliod,  your  honorable  scars,  iiut  it  decidedly  in 
your  power  to  take  eitlier.  A  State  whicli  has  full  confidence  in  you  will  wish  to 
see  its  banner  entrusted  to  you.  If  the  coimnand  at  West  Point  is  otlered,  it  will  be 
honorable;  if  a  division  in  the  Held,  you  must  judHc  whether  you  can  support  tlie 
fatigues,  circumstanced  as  you  are. 

"  Mrs.  Scliuyler  proposes  a  jaunt  to  Philadelphia  ;  if  she  goes  I  shall  accompany 
her,  and  liave  the  pleasure  of  seeiiii;  you.  She  joins  me  in  every  friendly  wish; 
plea.se  to  make  my  respects  to  your  lady  and  her  amiable  sisters. 

•'  Believe  me,  with  the  most  atl'ectionate  regard  and  esteem, 
"  Yours,  most  sincerely,  etc.,  etc., 

"  PiriLlP  SCIIUVLER." 

—Schuyler  to  Arnold,  June  '2,  1780.    See  Life  of  Reel,  Vol.  II,  pp.  '270-7. 

I  am  aware  that  after  .\rnold's  treason,  Washington,  as  was  natural,  used  very  dif- 
leieiit  language  in  regi>rd  to  him,  and  makes  some  qualificatious  of  tlie  language 


|i 


i!i 


264 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD, 


But  tins  pul)lic  disf^racG  left  a  wound  wliicli  no  kind 
words,  no  sympathy  from  AV^asliington  or  Schuyler,  or 
other  friends,  could  ever  heal.  Proud,  high  spirited,  a 
sense  of  injustice  and  wrong  rankled  and  irritated,  until  it 
poisoned  and  prepared  the  way  for  tlie  consumnuition  of  his 
O'ime. 

nttribnted  tohim  byPchuyler.  But  in  the  snme  letter,  Washington  says  the  con- 
versation dutnilod  by  Sclmylur  miide  very  little  impression  upon  him,  nn<l  Schuy- 
ler's letter  was  written  very  soon  after  the  eonversntion  look  place,  ami  Wasliington 
•lid,  a  few  davs  after  this  interview  with  Scliuylcr,  offer  to  General  Arnold  the  com- 
raaiid  of  tlie  left  wing  of  liis  own  army. 


' 


!i  ;i 


CHAPTER    XV. 


ARNOLD'S    TREASON. 


!i»i» 


"  He  falls  like  Lucifer, 
Never  t.o  hope  ugaiu," 

The  Motives  wiuni  led  to  Arnold's  Treason— His  Wrongs— iNnrcEMENTS  Held 

0  T  TO  HIM  BY  BRITL<H  EMlSfiAKIES— TUEY  TKY  TO  CONVINCE  HIM  THE  CONTEST 
HOI'ELE-S,  AND  THAT  KNULAND  OFFERS  ALL  FOR  WHICH   HK  DrEW  HIS  HWORD — 

Sii'i'  SKD  Meetinc}  betwken  him  and  Beverly  Koihnson— Letteu  to  Arnold, 
Attribited  to  Kobinson  by  Mahbo.'S— Arnold  Yields  to  the  'J'e.mi'iations 
Offered  and  Seeks  the  Command  of  \Vi>t  Point— Meets  \Vashin(.ton  at 
King's  Kerry,  who  Offers  him  the  Command  of  the  Lkft  Wino  of  his 
Army— Tradition  that  Arnold  said  his  Defkction  was  to  Prevent  more 

BLOODSIlr.D-MEETINO  OF  ARNOLD  AND  ANDRK— SUl'POSED  CONVERSATION  BE- 
TWEEN THEM— Andre's  Capture— His  Letter  to  Washington. 

The  rifing  sun  is  briglit,  warm  and  genial:  tlie  eclipse, 
dark,  cold,  dreary  and  repulsive. 

"We  have  followed  the  rising  glory  of  Arnold  s  fame,  and 
now  approach  its  ecli|»se;  an  eclipse  from  which  he  never 
emerged.  Let  us  try  nnd  analyze  the  causes  which  led  to 
his  fall,  a  melancholy  fall,  a  fall  which  Irving  said  will 
make  his  name  "  sadly  conspicuous  to  the  end  of  time." 
Let  us  try  to  ascertain,  if  ])ossible,  what  motives  controlled, 
what  temptations  seduced  him. 

The  reader  of  the  ])revious  pages  will  not  need  to  have 
recalled  the  strange,  mysterious,  almost  inexjdicable  acts 
of  cruel  injustice  with  which  Congress  had  treated  liim: 

(205) 


2GG 


Lll'Ji   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


acts  which  no  remonstrance  ofWashington  could  prevent, 
no  exporitnlation  or  enti'oaty  of  his  could  induce  tlieni  to 
correct;  actswliich  iiulicated  a  hostility -which  no  service  of 
Arnold  could  entirely  overcf»nie  or  conciliate.  Le^innini;' 
early  in  his  military  life  and  continuing  down  to  their 
approval  of  the  severe  sentence  by  the  court-martial,  of  a 
"reprimand"— a  public  disifrace  which  even  his  bitter  ene- 
mies of  the  Pennsvlvania  Council  asked  Confrress  to  dis- 
pense  with.  Either  from  magnanimity  or  a  less  worthy 
motive,  they  sent  a  letter  to  Congress,  in  which  they  "beg 
leave  to  recpicst  that  Congress  will  be  pleased  to  disj)enfe 
with  that  part  of  the  sentence  Avhich  imposes  a  pul)lic 
censure,  and  may  most  aft'ect  the  feelings  of  a  brave  and 
gallant  officer."  '  I^either  his  crippled  condition,  the  blood 
he  had  shed  in  the  service  of  his  country,  the  finding  of  the 
court  exoneratinc:  him  from  all  intentional  wronsx,  nor  even 
the  request  his  prosecutors,  could  overcome  the  hostility 
of  his  enemies  in  Congress,  and  that  body  apju'oved  the 
sentence,  and  left  him  to  be  disgraced  by  a  "  ])ublic  censure." 
Tiie  numerous  letters  of  General  Washington,  quoted 
on  these  pages,  the  letter  of  General  Schuyler,  mentioned 
in  the  last  chapter,  and  the  so-called  reprimand,  clearly  in- 
dicate the  opinion  of  Washington  as  between  Arnold  and 
his  enemies.  Indeed,  it  is  very  probable  that  a  portion  of 
the  hostility  on  the  part  of  some  members  of  Congress  to- 
wai'ds  Arnold,  may  be  attributed  to  AVashington's  known 
friendship  for  him.  It  was  safer  to  strike  one  of  ^ya^hing- 
ton's  favorite  officers,  who  had  faults,  and  was  often  iiulis- 
creet,  than  to  strike  the  Commander-in-Chief.  The  action 
of  Congress,  and  the  public  disgrace  of  a  re])rimand,  drove 
him  to  desperation;  and  from  that  time  he  inclined  to  the 
temptations  which,  since  his  residence  in  Philadelphia.  ha<l 
been  constantly  addressed  to  him;  and  he  now  heard,  day 

1.    ReeJ  to  Congress.    Arnold's  Trial,  p.  1G3. 


ins   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TEEASOX. 


267 


after  day,  witlioiit  rebuke,  if  not  with  satisfaction,  the 
loyalists  of  that  city  denounce  Congress  and  expatiate 
upon  his  wrongs  and  sutferings.  Ilis  connection  Avith  the 
Sliippen  family  brought  him  into  social  relations  with  the 
(»1(]  tory  families  of  that  city,  and  he  lived  largely  in  an 
atmosphere  of  loyalty  to  the  crown.  It  is  difficult  to  over- 
estimate the  influence  of  such  a  social  circle  upon  opinions 
and  conduct.  I  am  unable,  by  any  positive  or  clear  evi- 
dence, to  iix  upon  the  exact  date  when  Arnold's  corre- 
sjiondence  with  the  enemy  began.  It  is  stated  by  Mr. 
Sparks,  "  that  he  had  already  made  secret  advances  to  the 
eiiemj',  under  a  feigned  name,  intending  to  sfpuire  his  con- 
duct according  to  circumstances;  and  prej)ared,  if  the 
court  decided  against  him,  to  seek  revenge  at  any  haz- 
ard." I  have  good  reason  to  believe  the  advances  were 
made  from  the  other  side.'  That  the  idea  of  leaving  the 
service  of  his  country  had  occurred  to  him,  or  had  been 
suggested  to  him  some  time  before  his  trial,  but  only  tu  be 
spurned  with  indignation,  appears  from  a  letter  of  his  to 
General  Gates  as  early  as  August,  ITTT,  in  which  ho  says 
"  a  few  days  since  I  was  informed  that  Congress  had 
accepted  my  resignation.'  I  have  luul  no  advice  of  it  from 
the  President.  iS'o  ])ublic  or  ])•. ivate  injury  or  insult  sliall 
prevail  on  me  to  forsiike  t!te  eauae  of  nnj  'injured  and 
ojjpressed  country  until  I  see  ]»r'ace  and  lil)erty  i-estored,  or 
nobly  die  in  the  n.ttempt."'  ^  At  a  still  earlier  period,  when, 
although  Washington  had  said  to  Congress  there  was  not  in 
his  army  "a  more  active,  a  inore  spirited,  a  more  sensible 
officer"  than  Arnold,  then  the  senior   IJrigadier   General, 

1.    Scclottcr  ascribed  to  Beverly  Knliinsoii.  qiioteil  hereafter. 

•1.  Tliis  resigiiatidii  ho  hail  temlereil  utter  ('(Mi^'ress  luid  rcfnscil  him  his  proper 
rank:  he  withdrew  it  and  joined  Seluiyler  at  tliu  approach  of  liurgoyne,  as  .stated 
in  a  former  chapter. 

3.    From  Gates'  papers,  Vol.  IX,  p.  12,  in  New  York  Historical  Society. 


((•■ 


2C)S 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


yet   in    the   promotions   lie  was   passed,  and   in  M'riting  to 
Gates,  he  said: 

"By  heavens,  I  am  a  villain,  if  I  seek  not  a  brave  re- 
venge for  injured  honor."'  In  the  light  of  his  subsequent 
conduct,  by  ^''ahrave revenge,^^  he  may  fairly  be  understood  to 
have  meant  a  still  more  efficient  service  of  his  country,  and 
a  still  more  hazardous  exposure  of  )iis  life  in  her  defense. 
How  deplorable  that  this  sentiment,  this  kind  of  "  revenge" 
did  not  control  him  to  the  end!  Does  he  not  exhibit  an- 
other illustration  of  the  truth,  that 

"  Vice  is  a  monster  of  so  frightful  mien, 
As,  to  be  hated,  needs  but  to  be  seen. 
Yet  seen  too  oft,  familiar  with  her  face, 
We  first  endure,  then  pity,  then  embrace." 

Did  Arnold,  when  the  idea  of  desertion  was  first  sug- 
gested to  him,  spurn  it ;  then,  when  other  wrongs  and 
injuries  brought  it  back,  first  "endure,"  then  encour- 
age, and  finally  "  embrace"  it  ?  "When  he  w'as  fighting  the 
battles  of  his  country,  and  his  known  wrongs  caused  the 
friends  of  the  crown  to  suggest  desertion,  he  replied  with 
all  the  indignation  of  Ilazael  to  the  prophet,  '•  Is  thy  ser- 
vant a  dog  that  he  should  do  this  great  thing  ?" 

I  return  to  the  question,  what  were  his  controlling 
motives  ?  I  dismiss  as  unworthy  of  a  moment's  consider- 
ation the  idea  that  a  money  bribe  liad  any  controlling 
influence  upon  him.  He  received  a  compensation  for  his 
losses,  as  the  English  General,  Charles  Lee,  M'ho  resigned 
and  sought  and  received  a  commission  from  Congress, 
received  thirty  thousand  dollars  from  the  United  States  to 
cover  his  losses.'      Arnold  sought  money,  and  sometimes 

1.  Charles  Loo  demanded  'and  received  from  Congrees  830.000  ns  an  iiulcmnity 
forliis  losses  In  quitting  the  British  and  joining  tlie  Americans.— /f(mcjo/<,  VW.  7A', 
■/).  16H. 

Wlion  captured  by  the  Britisli  and  tlircatcned  witli  puni-^hment  as  a  deserter,  ho 
lictruyod  tlie  United  States,  and  was,  tlien  Ion*,  luifaithful  hy  turns  to  hotli 
governments.— .^tc  Tvcason  o/Charlca  Lee  by  Uto,  II.  Moore;  liaiicrujt,  Vol.  lX,pp.  330, 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


2G9 


by  means  iinworthy  of  a  clistiiifi^n itched  soldier,  but  when 
acqnirt'd,  few  scattered  it  more  freely,  lie  squandered  it 
upon  liimself  and  family  ;  lie  shared  it  f^eneronsly  with  his 
friends.  His  purse,  when  there  was  anythiiii^  in  it,  was 
always  open  to  Mansfield  and  Lamb  and  Frank  and  others. 
He  was  no  miserly  lioardcr;  he  did  not  care  for  money 
for  itself,  but  his  lavish  exj)enditures  induced  him  to 
seek  to  supply  his  wants  by  commerce,  and  by  buyins^  in- 
terests in  ])rivatecrs  preyin^^^  upon  En<;lish  merchantmen. 
The  controlliuiji;  influences  which  ])re})ared  the  way  for  the 
tempter  and  led  to  his  crime,  were  a  dee])  and  bitter  sense 
of  lonf^  continued  wronj^,  and  personal  resentment,  and  re- 
venge, lie  was  a  proud,  strong  hater,  constant  to  hi& 
friends,  and  unyielding  to  his  enemies,  though  placable 
when  they  made  the  first  advances.  To  a  burning  sense  of 
public  injustice  was  added  the  humiliation  of  the  personal 
triumph  over  him  of  bitter,  cruel,  and  |  ersistent  enemies. 
His  defense  before  the  court-martial  shows  how  deeply  his 
passions  were  stirred  against  his  foes,  in  and  out  of  Con- 
gress. "Such  a  vile  ])rostitution  of  power,  and  such  in- 
stances of  glaring  tyranny  and  injustice,  I  believe,"'  says  he, 
"are  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  a  free  people."  He 
characterizes  the  charges  against  him  "as  false,  malicious, 
and  scandalous."  His  accusers  were  "  the  murderers  of  his 
reputation."  How  keenly  he  felt  the  delay  caused  by  the 
j)roseciitiou,  appears  from  his  earnest,  sometimes  pathetic, 
appeals  to  Washington  for  a  speedy  trial.  "Delay  to  him, 
he  said,  was  worse  than  death."  I  seek  not  to  extenuate, 
much  less  to  justify  Arnold's  crime.  Indeed,  for  his  trea- 
son there  can  be  no  plea  but  the  one  plea  of  "guilty." 
Xo  provocation  can  extenuate,  no  ingratitude  or  injustice  ex- 
cuse it.  There  are  circumstances  of  aggravation,  if  an3'thing 
can  aci^ravate  treacherv  and  treason.  Among  these  circuin- 
stances  were  his  obligations  as  a  soldier,  Washington's  en- 


f. 


I  Im'v 


270 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


(lurinfT  friendship,  and  tho  porsonul  devotion  to  him  of  ponic 
of  his  sul)ordinates  and  comrades,  fiuch  as  Varick,  Liviiifi^sto]!, 
Frank,  Lamb,  Schuyler  and  others.  AFost  of  them  lia<l 
foufj:]it  witli  liim,  and  some  of  them  liad  foiiu'lit  for  liim,  in 
tlefeiiso  of  In's  rejmtation.  Xothinij;  l)ntliis  desertion  could 
alienate  their  devoted  attachment.  I'herefore,  I  re])eat,  I 
can  neither  extenuate  nor  excuse  his  crime.  I  do  not 
<|ualify  my  ahhorronce  and  detestation  of  that  crime,  but  I 
am  tr^nng  to  lift  the  veil,  and  see  tho  Avorkinj^  of  the 
motives,  the  stru<^gles  of  the  proud  heart,  by  which  this 
once  earnest,  sincere,  zealous  atriot  was  converted  into  a 
traitor.  Let  us  tlien  try  to  iinas^ine  his  feeliji£!^s  after  liis 
disujrace.  His  enemies  were  exulting  in  their  triumpli. 
Tho  wounds  inflicted  upon  liis  person  by  the  enemies  of 
his  country  he  could  bear,  but  not  those  upon  his  character, 
l)y  his  personal  enemies  in  the  name  of  his  country. 
AV'hile  thus  humiliated  and  desperate,  he  allowed  himself 
to  speak  intemperately,  unguanledly  of  Congress,  and 
especially  of  the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania.  The  loyalists 
of  Philadelphia  hearing  tliese  remarks,  and  eager  for  the 
defection  and  acquisition  of  a  soldier  so  distinguished, 
•leliberately  set  about  to  seduce  him.  Men  and  women  of 
high  personal  character,  of  reputation,  culture  and  ability, 
Hattered  him,  filled  his  ears  with  sympathy  for  his  wrongs, 
exaggerated  the  injustice  of  liis  country,  kept  alive  his  in- 
dignation towards  his  enemies,  insisted  that  the  contest  for 
independence  was  hopeless,  and  endeavored  to  convince  liim 
that  he  might  redress  all  his  wrongs,  triumph  over  his  en- 
emies, and  that,  too,  as  they  perhajis  honestly  believed, 
without  injury,  but  with  advantage  to  his  country.  "  Britain 
now  offers,"  said  they,  "  all  and  more  than  all  which  the 
colonies  asked  when  you  drew  your  sword,  and  the  war  be- 
gan. She  now  offers  everything,  independence  only  ex- 
cepted.    She  now  declares  there  shall  be  no  taxation  with- 


HIS    TATRTOTISM    AND    IITS    TREASON. 


271 


out  representation.  The  colonies  shall  impose  what  taxes 
they  please,  and  nialvC  their  own  laws.  Every  grievance 
sliall  he  redressed,  and  paternal  and  filial  relations  restored." 
The  loyalists  appealed  to  Arnold  to  become  the  reconciler 
between  contending  brothers. 

"  Stop,  we  pray  yon,"  said  they,  "the  fast  flowing  blood 
of  kindred  and  countrymen."  "  Stop  this  cruel  war,  and 
the  wives  and  mothers  of  the  starving,  naked,  bare-footed, 
unpaid  soldiers  of  the  Continental  army  will  rise  up  and 
bless  you  as  the  peace-maker." 

"  Whv,"  said  the  British  emissarv,  "  whv  shed  moni  bloo<l 
when  we  are  willing  to  grant  all  vou  are  flghtinijfor?  Save 
the  people  from  the  factions  of  Congress.  Save  them  from 
anarchy.  Save  these  Protestant  colonies  from  becominir 
the  vassals  of  lioman  Catholii;  France.  Act  the  part  of 
(ireneral  ]\[onk  in  Enirlish  history.  United  by  a  just  and 
cordial  union,  England  and  her  American  colonies  can  defy 
the  vorld.  We  have  the  same  language,  the  same  laws  and 
liternturo-  the  same  great  JMagna  Charta  which  secures  the 
vvc  J  und  liberties  of  Englishmen  at  home,  shall  protect 
tiio  Americans  here.  As  Clive  saved  the  Jh-itish  Empire 
in  India,  we  implore  you  to  save  it  in  America."  Such,  we 
may  believe,  were  tho  appeals  addressed  to  him  by  British 
agents,  and  especially  by  Colonel  ]>everly  Bobinson,  and 
the  loyalists  of  Philadelphia.' 

And  then  these  emissaries,  d  isguising,  or  perhaps  not  fully 
realizing  the  baseness  of  the  treachery  they  were  tempting 

1.  Soolctter  found  ammif?  ArimbVs  papers  at  We«t  Point,  attribntod  to  Uoliiiison 
by  Miirbois,  quoted  lieruiifter.  Sec,  also.  Life  of  Andre  by  Sargent.  Appendix,  p. 
•117;  also  Mnrbuis'  Conspiracy  of  Arnold.  Colonel  ISevcrly  Koliin.son,  tlic  son  cf 
President  Robinson,  bom  in  Virtiinia,  and  nnlil  sti)iir:ited  by  political  eveni.s,  tho 
friend  of  Washington.  lie  died  in  Kngland  after  the  war,  and  his  liir;,'e  estate  in 
New  York  was  conli.scatod.  He  was  a  correspondent  of  Arnold  before  Arnold  went 
to  West  I'oint.  lie  accompanied  Andre  up  the  Umlson,  on  the  Vnlture.  It  is 
stateil  in  a  note  by  the  translaior  of  Chastellnx'  Travels,  published  in  London,  1787, 
that  a  Lieutenant  Uelc  was  an  active  si)\-  in  I'liiladeliiliia,  in  1778,  and  it  has  been 
suggested  that  he  was  the  lirst  to  make  treasonable  suggestions  tj  Arnold. 


I^Ki 


.1 

r 

S    f 


!  I 


i  ! 


272 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


liiin  to  practice,  pointed  out  to  lilin  the  glory  lie  would 
achieve.  "  Yoii,"  said  they,  ^  can  end  the  war.  You  can 
secure  tlie  liberties  of  your  country.  You  can  he  her  bene- 
factor. You  will  receive  tlie  gratitude  of  both  Uritain  and 
America  by  re-uniting  both  in  one  great  coininonwealth; 
and  tiiis  accomplished,  wliat  title  among  England's  proud 
nobility  will  be  too  liigii  a  reward  for  such  a  service? 
"We  a])]ieal  to  you  to  restore  the  union  between  your 
native  land  a*  .  'he  land  of  your  forefathers.  Great  Britain 
is  not  like  France,  a  ''>reii;n  countrv.  Your  ancestors  for 
many  generations  si.  ,,>  in  the  soil  of  Old  England,  and  now 
with  an  offer  to  redress  every  grievance  for  which  you  drew 
yo.ir  sword,  she  asks  you  to  gi\e  both  countries.  Old  Eng- 
land, your  fatherland,  and  New  England,  your  native  land, 
peace  and  harmony."  And  then  ])ointing  to  the  disordered 
finances,  tlie  feeble  and  starving  army  of  Washington,  the 
factions  and  corruptions  so  generally  prevailing,  they  tried 
to  show  him  that  to  fight  longer  was  hoi)eless  as  well  as  unnec- 
essar3%  The  careful  student  of  the  history  of  tliose  days 
will  find  much  to  justify  grave  doubts  of  final  success. 
These  depressing  facts,  S(jme  of  which  I  will  enumerate, 
only  make  the  constancy  and  fortitude  of  Washington  and 
his  faithful  associates  more  conspicuous.  In  a  letter  to 
Schuyler,  AYashington  says,  "  I  hardly  thought  it  possible 
atone  period  to  keep  the  army  together.'"  "At  one  time 
the  soldiers  eat  every  kind  of  horse  food  but  hay.''  "  Un- 
less," says  lie,  "  Congress  and  the  States  act  with  more  en- 
ergy than  they  have  hitlierto  done,  our  cause  is  lost."'' 

Lafayette  writing  to  Washington,  says,  "There  are  open 
dissensions  in  Congress — parties  who  hate  one  another  as 
much  as  the  common  enemy." 


55  3 


1.  Mnrsliall's  Life  of  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  p.  lOG. 

2.  Miirsliairs  Life  of  Wnsliington,  p.  214. 

3.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  V,  p.  4S8. 


HIS   rATlUOTISM    AND   HIS   TKEASOX.  273 


AVliile  tlie  army  was  nearly  starvinr^,  rair,^ccl  and  almost 
nakod,  the  treasury  without  nionoy,  the  States  and  Congress 
rent  by  factions,  and  aflairs  generally  in  the  most  gloomy 
condition,  AVashington's  effective  force  was  rediieod  to  little 
more  than  3,000  men,  an<l  Sir  Henry  Clinton  returned  from 
the  conquest  of  South  Carolina  with  4,000  troo])s.'  And 
the  British  force  in  and  about  New  York  was  12,000, 
Washington,  writing  to  Congress  at  this  crisis,  says:  "  There 
is  no  time  to  be  lost;  the  danger  is  imminent  and  pressing; 
the  obstacles  to  be  overcome  are  great  and  numerous,  and 
our  efforts  must  be  instant,  unreserved,  and  universal." 
Hamilton,  writing  to  George  Clinton,  says:  ''They  (Con- 
gress) have  disgusted  the  army  by  repeated  instances  of  the 
most  whimsical  favoritism."" 

Many  of  the  best  patriots  were  in  despair.  AVashington 
himself  says  in  a  letter  dated  May  28,  17S0,  "Unless 
a  system  very  different  from  that  which  has  long  prevailed 
be  immediately  adopted  throughout  the  States,  our  ailairs 
must  soon  become  des]ici'ate,  beyond  the  ])ossibility  of  re- 
covery. *  '^  J ndeed,  I  have  almost  ceased  to  h<)]>e.''^^  It 
was  when  everything  looked  so  dark  and  discouraging  tliat 
the  emissaries  of  Jh-itaiu  and  the  tories  made  their 
most  determined  efforts  to  win  over  Arnold  to  the  roya! 
cause.  I  have  endeavored  to  recall  some  of  the  armiments 
and  sophistries  they  breathed  into  his  ears  at  a  moment 
when  he  Avas  desjierate  and  chafing  with  real  injuries. 
The  English  view  of  his  coiuluct  appears  by  the  ]»re.ss  of 
that  day.  His  desertion  is  com])art'd  to  that  of  Churchill 
(Alarlborough)  who  deserted  James,  Lord  Cornbury  at 
lloniton,    the  great  Montrose   and   others.*      There  is    a 

1.    >rarslian's  Life  of  WashinRton,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  '.SS-S. 
'J.    sparks'  Writiiics  of  Washington,  Vol.  V.  p.  50S. 
•i.    Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  VII,  p.  58. 

•1.    The  (ollowing  lutter,  quoted  from  the  London  Clironic'e,  of  Pec  Hth,  1780,  p. 
f>".',  wiU  verify  the  te.vt: 

"CHARACTER  OF  BENKDICT  ARNOLD. 

"Sir  :  We  in  the  country  have  been  locking  up  to  your  town  writers,  to  see  whether 

18 


ii 


II! 


274 


LIFK    OF    BENEDICT    AIIXOLD. 


triuliticiii  {inioii<i;  eomu  ol'  AnioUrs  (Ic^cciKlantc,  oi'  a  iiiccf- 
iiig  betwocn  him  and  lieverly  Iv()l)iiibiiii.  I  do  not  vinich 
for  its  truth,  hut  I  have  more  reason  to  believe  it  tlian   to 

liny  Olio  would  speak  of  Arnold  as  he  oiiyjht  tcibi>s|iokoii  of.  llisjoinliij?  tho  KIiik'.s 
troo|.s  Ik  a  miittcrof  iinporiiuirc.  llo  is  not  only  ii  hciivon  t>orn  hoMUt,  iis  ('livi- 
was  cnllfil,  anil  a  proof  how  soon  a  iniiii  of  spirit  mtiy  boconic  an  cxci'llcnt  olliccr. 
1111(1  may  step  from  a  shop  and  a  (iouiuiii>;lioiiso  hito  the  first  military  ranks,  and 
there  (listiiiKUisli  liiinsclf;  l)Ut  lie  seoins  to  liave  acted  ihr  iiiuhont  from  a  spirit 
which  would  have  adorned  iioliility.  Wlicn  lie  iinnnined  his  country  was  wronu'cd, 
he  rushed  Ibrlli  into  arms;  ami  liis  Camida  (  xpedition.  so  well  wrote  in  tlie  Annu- 
al K('L;jstcrnf  ITTI),  shows  liini  not  si'c.nd  to  the  hnive  Mont^'omery. 

'■  Wlierever  you  find  Ariiolii  in(Mition('(i  m  nctjon  dnrltii,'  this  war.  lie  sljines  ahove 
all  his  comiietrs.  We  luivi;  lool<ed  ujion  liim  only  as  a  soiilier,  Imi  in  liis  last 
action  we  find  him  a  true  American  citizen,  who  liuvin:,'  resisted  what  he  thoUKlit 
to  be  IJrllish  tyranny  as  briskly  and  determinedly  ns  any  niuii,  would  no  loiiL-er 
u|>hold  the  ^  niii/i.v  of  the  itKutpcis  in  America,  trhn  nimiiui/l!/  inatmcl  tlivwiirjionk 
siiiii'lrr  vicns  a' the  rx  rni'eofl!irpiihliri>iliri!'l,bi/aili/l<rs  oflrr  Itritnin.  villi  Ihe  npni 
nrm^  of  tin  imlul;ent  juin  nt  offtrnl  Id  nnhrai'r  llicin  ns  eliililirn,  and  iintiit  tin  vii^hnl  fur 
rrdre-s  nf  iinriainTf  ivhirh  IkmI  tnwle  liiiii  a  mduicr.  The  trdfnre  of  liiit  co'iiiri/  iimr 
uttdiiifd.  he  tlioiKjh'  nil  strife  flumtil  have  ceaKrd.  Iklwnen'ed  the  imitnliey,  tiirnnnij  niiil 
riijunlieeu'liieh  with  a  mrciriijii  eontempt  of  the  people  of  America  HlitdioHsliniii/'':cl((l 
to  lake  their  collective  tentimints  of  Ihe  lirdi^k  proposals  of  peace  vhich  exceeded  nil 
Ihe  frf-nn-al  winhca  and  expectatiims.  The  s;inie  usurpation  had  the  insolence  without 
Ihe  anthoiity  of  the  jieople.  to  coiK^liidc  a  trcnti/  irliich  to  tliis  verii  hour  the  j)roplr  hare 
not  raiiji'd,  vilh  Fraud,  the prmid,  ancient  and  crajlyfoe,  irho^c  buxinesmif.tl  irlinse  aim 
il  iit  lo  drsir,  11  bolh  Ihe  molher  Ciiuntfii  and  the pvoviiiers-.  Wlien  he  saw  no  man  in 
ihe  Ameiiean  lines  dared  to  speak,  or  write  his  sentiments  on  the  tyranny  of  a 
desperate  jiurty  in  Congress  who  were  niinini,'and  inslaviiif,'  America,  and  render- 
in;.;  her  a  vassal  of  I'raiiee  (an  abject  aiiiicnili!ge  to  the  crown  of  that  kint,'dom), 
■wliat  could  n  brave  mind  like  thai  of  Arnold  do  but  resist  the  evil  of  his  former  party, 
refuse  to  be  the  tool  tosetUi)rnin,  tyranny  and  vassalai,'e  torrance,  forsake  himscll, 
and  cause  as  many  a.s  he  could  to  forsake  the  destroyers  of  liis  com. try.  and  make 
tliat  event  of  service  to  America!  I  honour  him  for  it,  as  1  di<l  Cliiirclii;!  wlio  lelt 
.lames  tl.  Kvery  Wiiii;  will  lionor  Lord  Conibnry.  wlio,  under  ineteiiee  of  beating 
up  the  Prince  of  Orange's  fjnarters  at  Honiton,  carried  oil'  to  the  Prince  four  regi- 
ments of  horse.  There  are  |)Ublic  moments  which  oblifje  men  thus  to  act,  and  for 
which,  if  there  be  no  privat  ■  emohinient  in  the  case,  no  barj,'ain  and  sale  to  vitiate 
the  iiriiiciple.  but  hif^h  re.ard  only  for  the  f^eneral  welfare  men  of  really  just 
iniiuis  must  lionour  them.  I  reniemlier  the  ^reat  Montrose,  when  before  his  judges 
at  Kdinburgh.  who  u|)braiiled  him  with  haviiii;  broken  tlie  covenant  answered  : 
'He  had  doif  no'hinrj  ofirhiiii  lie  ivas  anhanied,  or  had  caui-e  to  rp'rt:  that  llie  firs', 
covenant  he  had  taken,  and  complied  with  it.  and  with  them  leho  took  it,  as  long  as  th" 
ends  for  which  it  was  ordained  ivere  observed  :  but  wk  u  he  di.-'CDrereil,  nhicli  uax 
now  evident  to  a'l  the.  world,  that  private  and  particnlar  men  desgned  to  fatiffi/  Ihfir 
oirnambiliiinand  intereM,  instead  of  cunsiderimj  the  public  benrfll,  etc.,  he  Iftd  wilhdraini 
himself  from  that  (ngageiiienl."  * 

It  is  not  necessary  to  say  that  the  foresoing  is  quoted  simply  to  show  how 
KuKlis^lmien  regarded  Arnold's  trcf.son. 


*  In  Clarendon' 


tory. 


Ills    PATHIOTISM    ,A\n    HIS    TREASOX. 


275 


<'rc(lit  tlio  JiOL'uracy  of  the  8])epohe9  put  into  the  mouths  of 
I.nzonio  iiud  Arnold  hy  ^[iirhois. 

A  iniunis(Ti|.t  k'ttcr,  without  siijnjituro,  found  at  West 
Point  iitU'i-  Arnold's  tlin^ht,  an<l  wliii-h  has  hoon  attri])Mf(M| 
to  IJevei'lv  Jlohinsoii,  contaiiis  a  st;it''iMeiit  of  many  of  tin- 
(.'onsidenitions  8ui>j)o.sed  to  liuve  been  addressed  to  him, 
urging  his  defection.  ' 

1.  In  SnrRcnts  Life  of  Amlri',  p.  117,  it  is  said  :  "  U  is  iinihiihlc  tlmt  llio  lettiT 
wfiicli  Miirbois  says  was  fotiiid  uiikjiik  Ills  ]  ai'iTs,  was  wriltcti  l>y  Itubiiisnii."  ('iniiit 
Harljc  .Marljois,  Socrotary  oltlio  Kivicli  l-i'i,'atioiiatttie  time  nf  tlu!  c!()iis|iiracy,  In  lils 
"  Coni])!ol  D'Arniililtl  Dc  Mr  Jleiiry  V/intim,  contrc  I.m  J':tnt>i-J'iiia  D'A>nrri<iiic"  jpiib- 
lislied  in  I'nris  in  ISlC,  (letldrcs  tliu  Ictlor  was  fouiiil  at  Wi'st  I'Dint,  ami  says :  •■  II 
I  toil  canni  en  crs  krinm,"  a\\<\  lu' iIiimi  inserts  tliu  lellcr  in  (pintnlidn  nnirlis.  It  is 
not  protiaMe  lliat  Martjois  I'orui'il  tin-  lultiT.  U  tctiils  to  sliow  tliat  Arnolil  nniy 
iiavc  l,(.'fn  inlliK'ticud  in  j>art  Ijy  less  si'jtisli  ami  less  criniinal  motives  tlian  tliose 
nsually  atti'iljiitcil  tu  liim;  but  Mailmis  sliows  nn  ilisi"  sition  to  ixtcnimte  his 
Biiilt. 

Sal)inc  in  his  Loijaliuls,  declares  it  certain  that  Jlobinson  was  in  commiinicatidn 
with  Arnold,  and  this  is  cornjborated  l)y  Joshua  II.  Sniilli. 

The  follow  inft  is  the  text  of  the  letter,  as  translated  from  Marbois  by  Sar^'ont : 

"  Amonir  the  Anierieuns  who  have  j(jined  the  rebel  standard,  there  are  very  niaiiy 
K  !(id  citizens  w'luis(\  only  object  has  been  the  hapiiines.s  of  their  country.  Sucli 
men  will  iiiit  be  intliicnced  by  motives  of  private  interest  to  aliandoii  llie  cause 
they  have  esjioused.  '1  hey  arc  now  oflered  everythinji  whicli  can  render  the 
colonies  really  hapi)y  ;  and  this  is  the  only  compensation  'i-orthy  of  their  \  irtue. 

"  Tlie  American  colon ic»  shall  have  their  J'luliiimcnt,  compnsfd  nf  tun  t^halnh)l•.^. 
with  alt  it-i  members  of  American  birth.  Those  oflhenpper  house  shall  have  titles 
andrank  simi'ar  to  those  of  the  house  of  peers  in  Kngland.  All  their  laws,  and 
particularly  such  as  relate  to  money  matters,  shall  be  tlio  production  oi  iliis 
assembly,  with  the  conenrrence  of  a  viceroy.  Commerce,  in  every  part  of  the 
filobe  snbject  to  British  sway,  shall  be  as  free  to  the  people  of  the  thirteen  coloiiies 
as  to  the  Knulish  of  Knrope.  They  will  enj(iy,  in  every  sense  of  tlie  plirasi^ 
tlie  blessings  of  good  government.  They  sluill  be  sustained.  In  time  of  need, 
by  all  the  power  ncres.sary  to  uphold  them,  without  being  tliomselves  expo.sed  to 
the  dangers  or  subjected  to  the  expen.scs  that  are  always  iii.separablc  from  the  con- 
dition of  a  ^tate. 

"  Such  arc  the  terms  proffered  by  England  ut  the  very  moment  when  she  is  dis- 
playing extraordinary  ell'orts  to  conquer  the  obedience  of  her  colonies. 

"Shall  America  remain,  w  ithoiit  limitation  of  time,  a  seete  of  desolation,— or  are 
you  desirous  of  enjoying  I'eaee  and  .ill  the  blessings  other  tiain?  shall  your 
Provinces,  as  in  ibrmer  days,  flourish  under  the  protection  of  the  most  puissant 
nation  of  the  world?  Or  will  yen  forever  puisne  tliat  shadow  of  liberty  which 
still  escapes  from  your  hand,  even  when  in  tlie  act  of  grasping  it?  And  how  soon 
would  that  very  liberty,  once  obtained,  turn  int  >  liceiitiousi  i  ss,  if  it  be  imt  under 
the  safeguard  of  a  great  Knropean  power?  Will  you  rely  upon  the  guaranty  of 
Trance?  They  among  you  whom  she  has  seduced  may  assure  you  that  her 
assistance  will  begencrotis  anil  disii.terested.  and  that  she  will  never  exact  from 
you  a  servile  obedience.    They  are  frantic  witlijoyat  tlie  alliance  already  estab- 


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276 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Sabine  is  autliority,  as  before  stated,  that  Robinson  and 
Arnold  were  in  commnnication  before  Arnold  went  to  "West 
Point.  Smith  declares  that  while  Arnold  occupied  the 
Robinson  House,  in  1780,  he  often  dined  with  him,  and 

lishcd,  and  promise  you  that  Spain  will  immoiliatcly  follow  the  examide  of 
France.  Are  thoy  ignorant  that  each  of  thenc  States  has  an  cquol  interest  In 
keeping  you  under,  and  will  romhine  to  accomplish  their  end?  Thousands  of 
men  have  perished;  immense  resource:;  have  been  exhausted  ;  and  yet,  since  that 
fatal  nlliance  the  dispute  has  become  more  emhittercd  than  ever.  Everything 
urges  us  lo  put  a  conclusion  to  dissensions  not  Iwa  defimental  to  the  victors 
than  to  the  vanquished:  but  dcsiralile  as  peace  Is,  it  cannot  be  negot  ated  and 
agreed  upon  between  us  as  between  two  independent  powers;  it  Is  uccssary  that 
a  decisive  advantage  should  put  Hritain  in  e  condition  to  dictate  tlie  terms  of 
reconciliation.  It  Is  her  interest  as  well  aa  her  policy  to  make  these  as  advan- 
tageous to  one  side  as  the  other;  but  it  is  at  the  same  time  advisable  to  arrive 
at  it  without  any  unnecessary  waste  of  that  blood  of  which  wo  are  already  as 
sparing  as  though  it  were  again  our  own. 

"  There  is  no  one  but  Gen.  Arnold  who  can  surmount  obstacles  so  great  as  these. 
A  man  of  so  much  courage  will  never  despair  of  the  republic,  even  when  every 
door  to  a  reconciliation  seems  sealed. 

'  Render  then,  brave  Generol,  tliis  important  service  to  your  coiuitry.  The  colo- 
nics cannot  sustain  much  longer  the  une<iual  strife.  Your  troops  are  perishing  in 
misery.  They  ore  badly  armed,  half  naked,  and  crying  for  bread.  The  efforts  of 
(ongressnre  futile  against  the  languor  of  the  people.  Your  fields  are  untiUcd, 
trade  languishes,  learning  dies.  The  neglected  education  of  a  whole  generation  In 
an  irreparable  loss  to  society.  Your  youth,  lorn  by  thou>auds  from  their  rustic 
pursuits  or  useful  employments,  are  mown  down  by  war.  Sucb  as  survive  have  lost 
the  vipor  of  their  prime,  or  are  maimed  in  battle;  the  greater  part  bring  back  to 
ilieir  families  the  idleness  and  the  corrupt  manners  of  the  camp.  Let  us  put  an 
end  to  so  many  calomities;  you  and  ourselves  have  the  same  origin,  the  same  lan- 
guage, the  same  laws.  We  are  inaccessible  in  our  islaml ;  aiul  ynu,  the  masters  of 
avast  and  ferUle  territory,  have  no  other  neighbors  than  the  peri)le  of  our  loyal  colo- 
nies. We  possess  rich  establishments  in  every  quarter  of  the  Klobe,  and  reign  over 
the  (airest  portions  of  Ilindostan.  The  ocean  is  our  home,  and  we  pass  across  It  as 
a  monarch  traversing  his  dominions.  From  the  northern  to  the  southern  pole, 
Irom  the  east  to  the  west,  our  vessels  find  every  wheie  a  neighl)oring  harbor  belong- 
ing to  Great  Britain.  So  many  Islands,  so  many  countries  acknowledging  our 
bway,  are  a;l  ruled  by  a  uniform  system  that  bears  on  every  Ceatiire  the  stamp  ot 
liberty,  yet  is  as  well  adapted  to  the  genius  of  ditl'ereiit  notions  and  of  various 
climes. 

'•  While  the  Continental  powers  ruin  themselves  by  war,  and  are  exhausted  in 
erecting  the  ramparts  that  separate  them  from  each  other,  our  bulwarks  are  otir 
ships.  They  enrich  us  ;  they  protect  us ;  they  provide  us  as  readily  with  the  means 
of  invading  our  enemies  us  of  succoring  our  friends. 

"  Beware,  then,  of  breaking  forever  the  links  and  ties  of  a  friendship  whose  bene- 
fits are  proven  by  the  experience  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  years.  Time  gives  to  hu- 
man institutions  a  strength  which  what  is  new  can  only  attain.  In  Its  turn,  by  the 
!a|)sc  of  ages.  Royalty  itself  experiences  the  need  of  this  useful  prestige,  and  the 
race  that  has  reigued  over  us  for  sixty  year^  has  beeu  illustrious  for  ten  centuries. 


li 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


277 


tliat  he  told  liiin  that  Kohinson  anxiously  sought  an  inter- 
view  to  explain  ])ropositions  which,  if  acceded  to,  would 
terminate  the  war.' 

It  is  not  improbable  that  an  interview  between  Arnold 
and  Robinson  had  l)een  had,  at  Smith's  or  elsewhere,  before 
Itobinson  came  up  in  the  Vulture.  The  tradition  before 
mentioned  is  that  at  at  such  meetinijj  Robinson  pressed  and 
uri,'ed  upon  Arnold  the  considerations  contained  in  the 
AVest  Point  letter.  If  this  interview  really  took  ])lace — 
and  it  is  probable  —  aided  by  tlie  letter,  the  discU)sures  of 
Smith,  and  Arnold's  address  to  his  countrymen,  giving  the 
reasons  for  his  desertion,  we  can  readily  imagine  the  to]>ics 
<liscussed  between  them.  Arnold,  recalling  the  former 
friendly  relations  between  "Washiiiijton  and  Robinson,  may 
have  said  : 

"Col.  Robinson,  how  can  you  urge  me  to  abandon  your 
old  schoolmate,  AVashington;  surely  you  have  not  for- 
gotten  your   old  friend  and  the   friend  of   your  father?" 

"Uiiiteil  ill  equality  we  will  rule  the  universe  \vc  will  lioM  it  bound,  not  by 
firms  uikI  violein'o,  but  by  the  tii's  of  coinineree— the  lit.'hte>*t  and  must  gentle  bonds 
tliat  Immnn  kiinl  can  wear." — Sitri/fiil's  Life  of  Awire.  ;>/>.  447,  8-9. 

.l()^hlla  II.  Miiiih,  ill  his  narrative,  eorrobiirates  to  MHiie  e.xteiit  the  statement  ot 
IMiiibois.  He  speaks  of  .XnioUl's  oltcn  clinin;;  ut  his  house,  and  at  dinner  express- 
ing' sentiments  similar  to  Iliose  contained  in  the  letteratlributed  toKoliinson.  (See 
narrative  of  Smith  !.•  iidon  edition,  iij)  V!l, '-"2, ;)!.»  Anioiiu  other  tilings  he  says  : 
•■  Gen.  Arnold  then  suid  he  ha<l  received  another  (laf;  of  truce,  and  Unit  Col.  Bev- 
erly Itobinson  hail  anxiously  solicited  an  interview  to  be  more  e.xplanatory  of  the 
liro.Hisiiions  that  were  to  pniduce,  if  aceedetl  to  by  CoiiKres.s,  u  geiieral  peace,  and 
hippily  terminate  the  expense  of  blood  and  trcaMire,  tliiit  were  ruinous  to  both 
countries  in  the  prosecution  of  a  war  without  an  olyect.  He  (Arnold)  said  he  eon- 
ceived  the  overtures  •  *  made  by  (jieal  Hritiiin  were  fouinled  in  all  sincerity 
and  nood  lailh.  and  they  fully  met  liuMdiiinatum  which  the  ^'cnerality  of  .Americans 
desired,  hut  bij  tilnil  he  amid  liurnSram  (  ol.  Jxtibiimini,  tin  jiri si nt  terms  held  uiU  M'!7i< 
much  jarthcr  than  ihc  prDpugUiniiK  af  ITSS,  nml  he  vmdi'  no  tluulil  tiny  w  ndd  be  the  Inisi* 
rfan  ho}iontl>k  jmicc.  This  event  he  saicl  he  luo.st  cordially  wished,  beiiiff  heartily 
tired  of  the  war."  "  And  he  then  complained  of  h;s  personal  wrinjjs."  (See  thisou 
ii<ms  narrative.)  I  am  aware,  of  course,  that  anything;  said  by  .loshua  Hett  Sinltli 
must  be  taken  with  great  caution  and  needs  corrolioratioii.  Hut  I  tliink  it  not  im- 
IHoliableUiat  Itobinson,  eiihcr  l>y  letters  or  jiersoiial  interview,  and  i)erhups  botli, 
held  out  these  inducements  to  Arnold. 

1.    Smith's  uarratlve  of  the  death  of  Andre  (London  Ed.),  pp.  '21  to  37. 


ii 


II 


278 


LIFE  OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


«!■ 


%: 


"No,"  replied  Robinson;  "I  have  not  forgotten  my  old 
Rchoolinate;  I  love  and  honor  AV^ashington,  and  I  regret 
he  is  not  now,  as  he  was  in  early  lite,  fighting  for  the  Crown." 

"l>ut,"  continued  he,  "G.iieral  Arnold,  wh}'  do  you  still 
hesitate  ?  You  adnjit  that  the  attainment  of  absolute  inde- 
j)endence  by  the  colonies  is  very  doubtful,  and  even  if  buc- 
eessful  they  will  become  the  wai'ds  of  France,  in  place  of 
being  the  sons  of  England.  AVliy  hesitate  when  we  now 
oli'er  all  that  the  colonies  can  iustlv  demand  ?  You  admit 
that  even  AV^ashington  almost  despairs  of  success.  To-day 
Great  J>ritain  is  ready  to  grant  everything  except  inde- 
])en(k'nee.  Is  it  "wise  to  delay  until  she  may  impose  upon 
our  country  the  terms  of  a  conijueror  ?" 

"  Itobinson,"  was  the  rej)ly,  ''  I  know  the  terrible  suffer- 
ings of  my  country,  and  I  deeply  feel  my  own  wrongs,  but 
you  know  my  name  is  to-day  honored  by  soldiers  in  both 
armies,  and  is  not  unknown  among  the  ])eople.  You  urge 
me  to  betray  a  sacred  trust — to  be  treacherous  to  my  com- 
rades, to  abandon  the  cause  for  which  1  have  often  bled,  to 
break  faith  with  my  comrades  and  my  noble  chief ;  in  a 
word,  to  become  a  traitor. ^^ 

"If  I  yield  to  vour  views,  and  Britain  finallv  fails,  I 
shall  be  doomed  to  everlasting  infamy,  and  my  own  chil- 
<h\n  will  hate  me  for  leaving  them  a  name  besmirched  with 
foul  dishonor  I" 

"But,"  said  Robinson,  "with  your  aid  we  shall  not,  can- 
not fail.  Look  at  your  feeble,  exhausted  colonies,  and  then 
at  the  vast  power  of  Great  Britain.  AV^ith  your  aid,  I 
repeat,  failure  is  impossible,  and  remend)er  how  generously 
Britain  rewards  those  who  render  her  great  and  signal  ser- 
vice. You  have  been  in  England  ;  were  you  ever  at  Blen- 
heim Palace  ?  Did  you  see  there  towering  high  above 
the  old  oaks  of  the  ])ark,  the  majestic  column  which 
England  reared  to  the  memory  of  John  Churchill,  Duke  of 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    II 18    TREASON. 


270 


]\raiTi)or()U<;li  ?  Contrast  the  lioiiorsand  the  treasure  wliicli 
8lie  lavished  upon  that  lieroic  traitor,  with  tlie  injjjratitude, 
the  injustice,  the  meanness,  witli  which  Congress  has 
treated  you  and  others  of  your  fellow-soldiers." 

"Churchill  was,  if  you  please  to  call  him  so,  doubly  a 
traitor,     lie  betrayed   his  benefactor  James,  deserted  him, 


am 


1    went  over   to   the  ]*rince  of  ()ranire 


and  then,  ]>re- 

tendiiig  the  deepest  remorse,  broke  faith  with  ^Villiam  ; 
acted  as  a  8j)y  in  his  court  and  caujp,  and  oll'ered  to  cor- 
rupt the  troo|)s  and  lead  them  over  to  James  ;  and  yet  all 
this  was  forgotten  in  the  real  service  he  rendered  his  coun- 
try, and  his  name  has  gone  into  history  among  the  proud- 
est on  her  records.  Here  you  liave  a  precedent  and  an 
exam])le ;  tramjile  your  scruples  under  foot.  In  great 
national  affairs  the  end  must  si'inetimes  justify  the  means. 
Do  this  great  deed  ;  end  the  war,  and  history  will  write 
your  justification,  and  England  will  reward  you  as  gener- 
ously in  titles  and  in  honors,  and  in  wealth,  as  she  did 
Churchill."  ' 

Such  were  the  appeals  to  which  Arn(»ld  finally  \'ielded. 

AVhether  the  letter  which  Marlwjis  alleges  was  found  in 
Arnold's  cpiarters  after  his  flight,  and  which  has  been 
attributed  to  Ueverly  llobinson,  is  genuine,  is  a  question 

1.    If  thisc  appeals  seem  cxtr\vas:niit,  lot  the  reader  remember  that  Arnold  was 
vain,  and  intensely  ambitious.    Lit  him  reeollect  for  what  purpose  they  were  used, 
and  that  they  were   suceesslul.      Lord  Macuulay,  spealcin^  of  Churchill's    deser 
tioii  of  James,  says:  "  He  was  bound  to  James  not  only  by  the  cornmou  obligation 
of  allegiance,  but  by  military  honor,  by  personal  gratitmle."       • 

"There  was  no  guilt,  no  disgrace  he  was  nut  ready  to  lueur." 

See  Macaulay's  History  of  England.  Vol.  Ill,  p.  82.  Again:  Churchill,  when 
holding  King  James' conimi.ssion,  writing  trcacherou.sly  to  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
says:  '' He  puts  his  honor  absolutely  into  his  hands."  Macaulay  says:  "William 
read  those  words  with  one  of  his  Mtter  and  cynical  sneers."  "  It  wasnot  his  busi- 
ness to  take  caro  of  the  honor  of  other  men,  nor  had  the  most  rigid  ca.sulst  pro- 
noumed  it  unlawful  in  a  (ieneral  to  invite,  use  and  reward  the  services  of  deserters, 
uhom  he  could  not  but  despise.    History  fif  Kngland,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  2'i(). 

And  wlien  Marlborough  subsequently  deserted  and  betrayed  William,  Macaulay 
calls  hlin  "the  Arch  Traitor."  Vol.  VI,  p.  17:!.  Those  who  wish  to  compare  or 
c'ontrast  this  great  Knglish  with  the  American  traitor,  may  consult  Macaulay. 


280 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


i 

} 


wliicli  pcrliaps  cannot  be  determined  with  absolute  cer- 
tainty. That  inducements  and  arguments  similar  to  tliose 
in  the  letter,  and  which  Ilobinson  pressed  u]>on  Arnold  in 
their  supposed  interview,  were  addressed  to  him  by  l^ritish 
agents,  there  can  be  no  reasonable  duubt.  The  liritish 
authorities  were  advised  by  the  loyalists  of  Philadelphia 
that  Arnold  was  dissatisfied,  and  that  he  felt  deej)ly 
wrouijed.  To  secure  his  defection,  and  throuirh  him  briii.'' 
about  peace,  was  deemed  a  matter  of  the  highest  iujpor- 
tance.  Such  temptations  were  presented  to  him  personally, 
and  such  considerations  in  regard, to  his  country  as  it  was 
supposed  would  be  most  likely  to  influence  him.  If  the 
letter  is  not  genuine,  it  was  ingeniously  and  .ably  written, 
and  ])resents  just  the  considerations  to  which  Arnold  would 
be  m»jst  likely  to  yield,  and  tt^  which  he  himself  declares  in 
his  address  tu  his  countrymen,  and  to  his  old  comrades,  he 
did  yield.' 

Now,  let  us  suppose  Andre  had  not  l)een  taken  prisoner, 
and  that  the  plot  had  succeeded:  that  AV^est  Point  had  been 
ca|)tured  without  bloodshed,  and  then,  Arnold  clothed  by 
(ireat  IJritain  M'ith  full  credentials,  had  ofl'ered  to  the  Uni- 
ted States  everything  but  indejjendence,  and  that  through 
his  instrumentality  the  war  had  been  closed,  and  liberty 
secured,  an  American  i)arliament  to  make  the  laws  for  the 
confederated  colonies,  with  a  nominal  recognition  of  the 
British  crown — what  would  have  been  the  judgment  of  the 
world  upon  his  conduct  ?  Thousands  who  have  cried,  and 
justly,  "crucify  him  I  crucify  him!"  would  h.ave  said  with 
equal  zeal,  "crown  him  with  honor."     Such  is  the  influence 

1.  Dining  nttho  tabic  of  Smith,  ashort  timcljcforo  Andre's  visit,  Arnold  saiil  ;"n.v 
■\vhftt  lie  could  leurn  fr  m  ('f)lonel  Kobinson,  the  present  terms  held  out  wont 
much  furthei'  than  the  propositions  of  1780,  and  he  miide  no  doubt  they  would  bo 
the  basis  of  an  honorable  vi'ki'-  T'is  event  he  nio^t  eordially  wished."— 
i^mith's^i'arrutivc,  p.  '21.    i^a  Uaurixl  AriiM  a  Addiaa  tu  His  Cuuntiumcn. 


HIS  r\TiuoTisM  and  his  treason. 


281 


of  success  or  failure.'     But  success  would  not  havecliangccl 

the  character  of  his  acts.     Is  it  iucrciliblo  that  a  desperate 

man,  trodden  upon  by  his  enemies, 

"  Within  whosi  boated  bosom  thronys 
The  UKMiiory  of  a  thousuiul  wrongs," 

as  he  re^^arded  them,  may  ])erhaps,  for  some  brief  moments, 
carried  away  by  the  violence  of  his  jtassions,  have  deceived 
liiinself,  or  j)erniitted  himself  to  be  dcccivod  by  these  soph- 
istries, and  for  one  moment  excused  himself  to  himself  for 
his  crime? 

If  he  did,  it  was  a  fatal  error,  and  terribly  and  justly  did 
he  suffer  for  it.  llepentance,  however,  after  the  first  overt 
act  was  too  late;  the  fault  was  fatal,  irrevocable,  without 
remedv,  and  for  which  nothinjr  could  condone.  For  con- 
cediui^  all,  admitting  that  his  passions  so  misled  his  judg- 
ment as  to  make  him  believe  that  he  could  by  betraying 
his  post  really  benefit  his  country,  this  is  no  excuse  for  his 
treachery;  if  honestly  satisfied  that  the  war  should  be  no 
further  prosecuted,  he  should  have  resigned  and  left  liis 
comrades — not  sought  to  betray  them. 

In  March,  1780,  while  not  yet  fully  committed  to  the  Eng- 
lish emissaries,  and  it  may  be,  hesitating  on  the  britdc  of  the 
precipice  of  his  crime,  his  restless  s])irit  devised  an  enterprise 
against  the  enemy  upon  the  sea,  which  in  its  execution  would 
require  several  shijts  of  war,  and  three  or  four  hundred 
troops,  of  which  exi)edition  he  oilV'ied  to  take  cumniand  ; 
his  wound  still  rendering  him  unfit  fur  active  duty  in  the 
field.  Washington  favored  the  project,  but  the  exigencies 
of  the  service  rendered  it  im])ossil)le  to  spare  the  troops,  and  it 
was  finally  abandoned.     At  another  time  he  seems  to  have 

1.    "  Tronson  doth  never  prosper.    What's  the  reason? 
Why,  if  it  iirosper,  none  dure  caU  it  trenson." 

It  i*  conceivable  that  if  Washington  had  fuik-d,  the  English  would  have  called 
him  the  tr&itcir. 


m 


RC: 


282 


LIFE   OF    DEXKDICT    ARNOLD. 


eiitertiiined  the  idea  of  resigniiii:^  liis  post  in  tlie  nniij  and 
retirin*;  into  the  t'orestP,  and  j»uttin^  himself  like  the 
J<  linsons,  on  the  Mohawk,  at  the  head  of  an   1  Julian  trilie. 

His  eonduet  and  |)lans,  after  his  disgrace  in  the  8prin<; 
and  summer  «tf  IT-SU,  are  involved  in  an  obsciirity  which 
will  prohahly  never  he  dispelled;  yet  it  is  evident  that  he 
liad  no  fixed  piir|>ose,  and  was  nndeterniined  what  to  do; 
now  he  was  brooding  over  the  past,  and  then  ])ondering  the 
fnture,  and  sometimes  almost  in  despair;  vai-ious  and  wild 
schenies  were  presented,  considered  and  rejected,  lie  had 
listened  to  the  temjiter,  and  t»»  hesitate  and  deliberate  over 
a  crime  so  desj)erate,  was  to  fall.  Like  a  rndderless  ship  in 
the  violence  of  a  wild  ocean  temjiest,  nncontrolled  by  ])rin 
cii)le,  he  was  dril'ting  hither  and  thither,  wherever  the 
storm  of  ])assiun  might  carry  him. 

At  abont  this  time,  while  pecnniarily  embarrass(d,  and 
tossing  on  the  snrges  of  ])assion,  it  is  alledged  by  JMarbois, 
he  songht  with  corrnpt  motives,  a  loan  from  the  envoy  of 
France,  tlie  Chevalier  de  LaLuzerne.  ^ 

The  acconnt  (»f  the  interview  between  Arnold  and 
Lnzerne,  given  by  ^larbois,  is  evidently  embellished,  and 
no  one  can  draw  the  line  b^'tween  fact  and  fiincv.  Marbois 
wrott^  history  with  jKtetic  license,  taking  the  liberty  of  put- 
ting such  speeches  into  the  mouths  of  the  persons  he  intro- 
duced as  he  imagined  they  might  have  made,  and  such  as 
would  make  his  narrative  lively  and  picturesque."  The 
speeches  i)etween  Ai'uold  and  Luzerne,  as  given  by  him,  are 
to  be  taken,  therefore,  not  ns  literal  truth,  but  sim])ly  as 
what  lie  imagined  might  have  passed,  lie  does  not  claim 
to   have   been  present,  or  even  to   give   the  language   as 

1.  Tlic  oonspiraoy  of  Arnold  and  Sir  Henry  Clinton  by  Mnrbois.— ^menVnJt 
Jlrrjietir,  Vnl  II.  p.  'Jti. 

2.  Sarsi'iit,  ill  his  liifo  of  Andre,  cautions  the  r- ndcr  npaiiist  Marbois,  even 
('oin|>iirinK  liini  with  Josliua  Hott  Smith,  saying,  "Suiitli,  like  Muibuia,  mu.>tt  always 
bo  received  di8trui<{fu!ly."—p.  M'. 


Btear 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


283 


reporte<l  by  Luzerne.  He  says  that  the  clievalier  ''  liad  been 
charmed  with  the  talents  and  l)ravery  of  Arnold,  and  took 
]>leasure  in  testifying  a  particular  ])redilection  f(»r  hlni.  lie 
thought  that  if  it  were  wished  to  rechiini  this  man,  it 
would  be  indis]iensable  to  recollect  only  the  <'lorious  circum- 
stances  of  his  life."  "He  continued  the  same  dejiortment 
towards  liiiu  as  before  his  disgrace,  and  this  generosity  won 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  general."' '  Having  thus 
won  Arnold's  confidence,  the  latter  in  his  distress  oi)ened  his 
heart  to  Luzerne,  detailed  liis  inisfortnnes  and  emharras- 
ments  and  sought  a  loan  from  the  French  Envoy.  Luzerne 
declined  the  loan,  but  gave  him  some  very  good  advice 
instead,  but  this  not  being  what  Arnold  sought,  he  received 
with  a  very  ill  grace.  Washington  Irving  expressed  the 
opinion  that  "  the  first  idea  of  proving  recreant  to  the 
cause  he  liad  so  bravely  vindicated,  appears  to  have  en- 
tered his  mind  when  the  charges  preferred  against  him  bv 
the  Council  of  Pennsylvania  were  referred  by  Congiess 
to  a  court-martial."  ' 

It  will  be  remend)ered  tliat  his  accounts  for  back  ])ay,  and 
disbursements  in  Cana<la,  and  elsewhere,  were  still  unset- 
tled. Mr.  lSi)ark8,  speaking  on  this  subject,  says:  "Wlietii- 
er  entire  justice  was  rendered  him  amidst  so  many  obsta- 
cles to  a  ])erfect  knowledge  of  the  merits  of  the  case,  it 
would  be  difficult  to  determine."'  Mr.  Sparks  also  says 
that  up  to  the  time  of  his  disgrace,  "his  intercourse  with 
the  enemy,  though  of  several  months'continuance,  had  been 
without  a  definite  aim— clothed  in  such  a  shape  that  it 
might  be  consummated  or  dropped,  according  to  the  com- 
plexion of  future  events."  * 

At  length,  won  by  the  specious  arguments       -^   ullure- 

1.  Marbois.    American  Kegister,  ]>.  27. 

2.  Life  of  Wnsliinston.  Vol.  IV,  p.  111. 

o.    Spiirks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  VI,  p.  530. 
4.    Life  of  Arnold,  p.  151. 


TH 


284 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


incnts  of  his  tempters,  and  iirf^cd  to  desperation  by  despair, 
lie  seems  now  to  have  adopted  the  fatal  resohition  of  be- 
traying liis  countr}',  and  of  making  his  desertion  as  useful 
and  etiective  to  the  enemy  as  ])Ossible.  On  the  28th  of 
March,  1780,  AVashington  gave  him  leave  of  absence  from 
the  army  to  regain  his  health,  but  cx])rcsfied  the  hope  that 
he  might  soon  be  in  a  condition  for  "active  service,"  and 
for  himself  and  Lady  Washington,  congratulates  him  on  the 
birth  of  his  son,  Edward  Shippen,  born  March  10th,  at 
Philadelphia. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  go  minutely  into  the  details  of 
the  treasonable  correspondence  and  c()nsj)iracy  of  Arnold 
and  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  The  life  of  Arnold,  by  Sparks, 
goes  over  this  ground  very  fully,  and  little  could  be  said  in 
addition  to  the  narrative  there  given.  The  correspondence 
began  under  assumed  names,  the  letters  of  Arnold  being 
signed  ^^  Gustavus,"  and  those  of  ]^!!ajor  Aiulre,  who  carried 
on  the  correspondence  on  the  part  of  the  British,  were 
signed  ^^Anderson."  Through  the  influence  of  his  friends, 
General  Schuyler  and  Robert  R.  Livingston,'  Arnold 
sought  and  obtained  the  command  of  "West  Point,  regai'ded 
as  the  most  important  military  position  in  the  colonies  ; 
and  here  were  stored,  as  in  the  safest  jdace  on  the  conti- 
nent, a  large  quantity  of  supplies  and  material  of  war. 
On  the  last  day  of  July,  1780,  Arnold,  who  had  been  on  a 
visit  to  Connecticut,  now  on  his  way  back  to  Philadelphia, 
reached  the  camp  of  "Washington  while  tie  army  was 
crossing  the  Hudson  at  King's  Ferry.  He  met  Wash- 
ington, on  horseback,  riding  to  see  the  last  division  cross 
the  river,  and  asked  if  any  place  had  been  assigned  to  him? 
Washington  replied,  "  Yes,  you  are  to  comnumd  the  left 

1.  Livingston  to  Washington,  June  22,1780,  speaking  of  Aniold,  says:  "Ills  courage 
Is  undoubted.  He  is  the  favorite  of  the  Militin,  ami  wlio  wiU  agree  perfectly  with 
our  Goveruor."— ^Sparfcs"  Writings  qf  Wushitigt^n,  Vol.  VJl,  p.  05. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


285 


wing,  the  post  of  honor."  At  those  words  his  countcimnco 
chunked,  but  he  made  no  reply.'  'VV^ashiii<^ton  invited  him  to 
go  to  lieadquarters,  where  in  a  short  time  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  arrived,  and  k^arned  with  some  surprise  tliat  Ar- 
nold still  complained  of  liis  wound,  and  of  liis  inability  in 
eonsecjuence,  of  doing  "projter  service"  in  the  field,  and 
that  he  still  desired  the  command  of  "West  Point.  "Wash- 
ington had  hoped  to  have  had  liis  services  in  the  field  in 
the  stirring  campaign  now  at  liand,  and  had  given  him 
command  of  the  left  wing  because  of  its  importance,  and 
because  he  wished  it  led  by  an  able  and  etlicient  oflicer,  as 
there  was  a  i)rospect  of  fighting,  and  for  such  work  no  one 
could  fill  the  place  better,  for  as  a  fighting  CJeneral,  "Ar- 
nold stood  })re-eminent  for  courage,  skill,  and  good  con- 
duct." " 

Wlien,  therefore,  Arnold  changed  countenance,  as  "Wash- 
ington, notwithstan<ling  Arnold's  ])ublic  disgrace,  an- 
nounced to  him  his  selection  to  command  the  left  wing, 
thus  carrying  out  the  generous  words  in  the  so-called  repri- 
mand, in  which  AVashington  had  exhorted  him  to  "exhibit 
anew  those  noble  qualities  which  had  })laced  him  in  the  list 
of  our  most  valued  commanders,"  and  said,  "I  will  fur- 
nish you  with  opportunities  of  regaining  the  esteem  of  your 
countrymen," — was  not  Arnold's  change  of  countenance  be- 
cause lie  now  saw  his  fatal  error — saw  it,  alas,  when  too 
late  ?  It  must  ever  add  a  still  dai'ker  siiade  to  his  treason, 
that  he  could  thus  deceive  his  old  and  ever  faithful  friend. 

Seeing  that  Arnold  really  wislied  the  command  at  West 
Point,  Washington  on  the  third  of  August  gave  him  his  in- 
structions, and  he  immediately  repaired  to  that  post,  and 
fixed  his  quarters  at  Beverly,  formerly  the  beautiful  coun- 
try seat  of  Col.  Beverly  Pobinson.     This  gentleman  was  in 

1.    Hamilton's  Lcttcs  to  Laurens.— Spa' fc«'  Lifeo/Aiiujld.p.liO. 
'J.    S|>urka' LifuofAiuijld,  p.  15U. 


280 


LIFE   OF    DENKDK'T    ARNOLD. 


i 

1! 


tlie  full  confidonco  of  Sir  TTcnry  Clinton,  llis  piotnrcpque 
mansion  stood  a  short  distance  lu'low  West  Point,  on  the 
eafltorn  side  of  tlie  Ilndson,  in  a  lonely  part  of  the  far-famed 
Highlands,  hii^h  up  from  tlie  river,  and  yet  at  the  footot  a 
moimtain  covered  with  woodH.' 

From  this  seclusion  Arnold  carr'-^d  on  his  secri  'orrcspon- 
dence  with  Andre.  Here,  some\viiat  secluded  lium  the  otti- 
cers  of  the  ])ost,  lie  lived,  and  was  often  seen  walkinijf  alone 
on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  liis  face  stern  and  sorrowful, 
brooding  over  liis  fancied  wronpjs. 

Here,  in  September,  came  Mrs.  Arnold,  bringini^  with 
her  their  infant  son,  Edward  Shij>pen;  and  to  her  while 
liere,  was  addressed  the  tonchin<j;  letter  of  Miss  Hannah 
Arnold,  set  forth  on  a  preceding  page.  Here,  on  the  14th 
of  September,  h(>  wrote  a  long  letter  to  General  Washing- 
ton, replying  to  questions  which  the  Commander-in-Chief 
luul  ])ro])ounded  to  the  council  of  general  officers,  as  to  the 
conduct  of  the  campaign.  Here,  on  the  12tli  of  Septem- 
ber, he  addressed  a  letter  to  General  Greene,  "with  senti- 
ments of  the  most  sincere  regard  and  atlection,"  criticising 
his  early  friend  and  later  enemy,  (Jeneral  Gates,  who  liad 
lately  been  terribly  defeated  in  South  Carolina,  and  among 
oilier  things,  saving:  "  It  is  a  most  unfortunate  piece  of 
business  for  that  Itcro^  and  may2)ossibly  blot  his  escutcheon 
with  indelible  infamy."* 

It  was  his  own  "  escutcheon  "  that  he  was  now  blottinsr 
with  "indelible  infamy." 

In  a  letter  to  Washington,  September  5th,  he  says:  "I 
had  the  pleasure  of  General  Schuyler's  company  last  night." 

It  was  thus,  while  in  daily  intercourse  and  correspond- 
ence with  his  fellow  soldiers,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  their 
friendship  and  sympathy,  and  in  the  unshaken  confidence 

\.    Irving's  Washlnj^ton,  Vol.  IV,  p.  112. 

2.    Mnnuscript  letter  in  the  State  Deiiiirtmcntat  Washington. 


HIS    rATlUOTISM    AND    HIS    TUKASOX. 


287 


of  his  cliiof,  Ilia  home  liallowcd  l>y  tlu'  dovotod  ufl'cf'tion  of 
liifl  youiii,'  jithI  bcantit'iil  wile,  and  liri;,ditt'ii('d  l\v  the  ]»hiy- 
l'uhit'88  of  his  child,  the  ichjl  of  his  sister,  th«>  ])ride  of  Ids 
elder  boys  at  seliool,  ho  was  consj)iriiii;  with  the  erietnv  to 
betray  the  cause  for  which  ho  aiul  Ids  cftiurades  had  so 
often  foiii^lit. 

I  liave  heard  from  a  «h'S('endaiit  of  Arnold  the  existence 
of  a  tradition  that  he  often  said,  and  repeated  over  and  over 
again,  to  his  dyin<j^day.  *'  I  belitned  our  canse  was  hopeless; 
1  thoui^ht  we  never  conld  succeed,  an<I  I  did  it  to  save 
the  eheddinj^  ot  blood.''  If  this  lani;uai;e  expressecl  his 
real  scntimenta  and  o]>iiMons.  Imw  intinitcly  more  noble 
would  it  have  been  to  stand  or  fall,  live  or  die  with  his 
coniradoB.     IFow  ine\cnsal»le  to  betray  them  I 

The  im)M>rlance  of  West  I'oint  with  its  ndlitary  stores, 
was  fidly  realized  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  Its  ]i(isses>ion 
would  secure  the  Hudson,  cut  olf  New  Kni^dand,  facilitate 
intercourse  with  Caiuida  by  the  lakes,  and,  in  fact,  accomp- 
lish nearly  all  which  l?uri^oyne  and  8t.  Letter's  expeditions, 
with  their  ten  tliousand  men,  had  soui^lit  to  effect. 

The  conspiracy  had  been  carriecl  forward  by  correspon- 
dence under  fictitious  names,  by  .\riiold  and  Andre,  and  its 
consummation  now  required  a  ju-rsonal  meetini^;  and  at 
Arnold's  request,  Aiulre,  then  holdiiii;  the  position  of  Ad- 
jutant-dieneral  in  the  Ih'itish  Army,  was  detailed  to  meet 
the  American  iijeneial  and  settle  all  details.  On  the  20th 
of  Septem])cr  Andre  went  on  board  the  Ih'itish  sloop  of 
war,  Vulture,  with  ('oloiicl  ]*everly  liobinson,"  and  j)ro- 
ceeded  up  the  Ilud.-ou.  with  a  view  of  holdiufif  an  inter- 
view with  Arnold.  On  the  night  of  the  21st,  a  boat  was 
sent  by  Arnold  to  the  Vulture,  which  brought  Andre  to 
the  shore  about  six  miles  below  Stoney  Point;  and  there 

1.    I  think  U»c  ciroumstantial  evidence  is  very  strong,  that  Robinson  had  Vjccn 
one  of  the  agents  to  .^cduue  Arnold. 


288 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


under  the  sliadow  of  tlie  mountains,  after  niidni^lit,  the 
conspirators  met.  As  the  dawn  of  day  drew  near,  the  con- 
ference not  being  concluded,  Andre  was  induced  to  accom- 
pany Arnohi  to  the  liouse  of  Joshua  IFett  Smith,  about  two 
miles  below  Stoney  Point.  Soon  after  they  reached  the  house 
the  Ixioming  of  cannon  was  heard,  and  directly  they  saw  the 
Vulture  wei<j;h  anchor  and  proceed  down  the  river.  Colo- 
nel Livin<fston,  of  the  American  army,  thoui^ht  she  was  too 
near  the  American  outposts,  and  brouijfht  cannon  to  bear, 
and  compelled  her  to  descend  the  river.  Arnold  and  An- 
dre breakfasted  together  at  Smith's,  and  then  com])leted 
the  arrangements  for  the  surrender  ot  AVest  Point.  Plans 
of  the  M'orks,  their  armament,  the  number  of  troops,  etc., 
were  furnished  by  Arnold  to  Andre,  and  concealed  by  the 
latter  in  his  boots,  between  his  stockings  and  his  feet.  Ar- 
nold then,  in  case  Andre  should  not  be  able  to  reach  tlie 
Vulture  by  water,  furnished  him  with  a  horse,  and  a  pass 
in  these  words: 

"  Peiinit  Mr.  John  Anderson  to  pass  the  guards  to  the  White  Phiinsi, 
or  below  if  he  chooses,  he  being  on  public  biisinoss  by  my  (lircction. 

"B.  Arnold,  M.  General r 

Also  a  pass  for  Smith  by  water,   and    another   hy  land. 

After  breakfast,  before  Arnold  and  An(b*e  separated, 
they  walked  out  towards  the  river,  and  pausing  on  the 
banks  of  tlie  Hudson,  Arnold  said  : 

"  \ndre,  you  have  strangely  won  my  confidence.  I 
camiot  part  without  opening  my  heart  to  you.  I  have 
cherished  the  hope  of  associating  my  name  with  that  of 
Washington  in  achieving  the  independeiu'c  of  my  country. 
Look  out  upon  this  magnificent  river,"  exten<ling  his  arm 
towards  the  Hudson  ;  "is  it  not  fit  to  ^ear  the  commerce 
of  an  empire  to  the  ocean?"     Musing  a  moment,  he  added  : 

"I  thought  it  time  this  vast  continent  was  independent 
and  free;  how  long,  I  used  to  ask  myself,  must  the  territory 


niS   PATRIOTISM   AND    IIIS   TUEASOX. 


289 


drained  hy  this  great  outlet  l)0  subordinate  to  your  petty 
Tlianies;  our  continent  to  vour  little  island?"  "  Do  vou 
ujipreciatc,"  he  coTitinued,  "all  I  hazard  by  the  scheme  we 
have  agreed  upon  ?"  "  IVFy  name  is  now  associated  in  his- 
tory forever  Avith  the  Hudson  and  the  ]\[ulia\vk  Valley; 
Jew  will  recall  Saratoga  without  thinking  of  the  bloody 
charge  I  iiuide."  "7  certainly  shall  not  forget  it,"  said  lie, 
smiling  bitteHy,  "  so  long  as  I  drag  about  this  cri]>pled  leg." 
'•  But,"  broke  in  Andre,  interrupting  him,  "what  cares  Con- 
gress for  your  services,  your  wounds,  and  your  losses  ? 
Vour  etieniies  in  C(»ngress  do  not  thank  you.  I  have  even 
been  told  that  in  your  last  fight  with  Burgoyne,  when  you 
so  crippled  him  as  to  compel  his  surrender,  you  fought  as  a 
volunteer,  and  without  a  command;  and  that  while  you 
were  leading  the  troops  Gates  was  in  his  tent,  not  even  go- 
ing upon  the  field  at  all:  yet  he  received  Burgoyne's  swords 
a  medal  from  Congress,  all  the  honors  of  the  victory,  and 
/le,  forsooth,  is  the  /lO'o  of  Saratoga,  while  you  were  tried 
by  court-nuirtial  and  disgraced." 

"Ves,"  replied  Arnold,  "all  this  and  more,  is  true;  and 
this,  in  part,  has  driven  me  to  my  present  conduct.  Inde- 
pendence must  be  post]ioned.  Half  a  century  hence  it  will 
come,  and  without  war." 

"Yes,  General  Arnold,"  said  Andre,  "we  will  restore 
peace  and  reconciliation;  and  for  you  there  shall  be 
honor,  appreciation,  and  an  English  peerage,  in  place  of  in- 
':,ratitude,   neglect,  disgrace,  and    a  j)ublic  'reprimand.'" 

"  And  for  my  country,"  said  Arnold,  "  ])eace  and  reconcili- 
ation will,  I  hope,  be  better  than  blood  and  suffering,  and  a 
French  vassalage;  but,  An<hv,  this  treachery  to  AVashing- 
ton,  my  best  and  most  faithful  i'riend— this  is  what  I  hate. 
Ah,  Andre,  you  do  not  know  him;  there  is  a  8im]de  dignity 
about  him,  a  sense  of  justice,  a  patience,  a  sympathy,  a  gen- 
erosity which  makes  me  both  love  and  reverence  him,  and 
19 


1 


290 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Il     il 


besides,  I  ain  Loniul  to  liim  by  gratitude  for  a  tliousand  acts 
of  kindness,  and  I  sometimes  feel  tbat  I  woidd  ratber  die 
tban  deceive  liini.  If!  could  b\iy  tbis  peace  witli  my  own 
blood,  if  by  giving  tlie  otber  leg  1  could  obtain  a  triumpb 
over  my  enemies  and  peace  for  my  country;  nay,  were  it 
not  for  my  wife  (you  know  lier  Andre,  and  wliat  1  bave  to 
live  for),  were  it  not  for  ber  and  tbe  boys,  my  life  migbt 
freely  go;  yes,  as  freely  as  I  periled  it  at  (Quebec,  at  Yal- 
cour  Island,  at  Kidgcfield,  at  J>emis  lleigbts.  *  *  *  * 
"  Tbej^  bave  driven  me  to  tbis,"  exclaimed  be,  bitterly,  "  tbey 
bave  made  me  tbe  villain,  all  tbe  world  will  call  me,  if  we 
fail!" 

"  But  we  must  not,  will  not  fail!  Go,  Andre,  basten  back 
to  Sir  llenry  Clinton,  bring  up  your  trooj)s,  and  "Wes^t 
Point  is  yours  I"  ' 

Tbns  ended  tbe  interview,  and  Arnold  returned  to  his 
quarters. 

Andre  passed  tbe  day  at  Smitirs  bouse,  expecting  to  be 
])ut  on  board  tbe  Vulture  at  nigbt.  As  evening  approacbed, 
Smitb  refused  to  ])ut  him  on  board,  fearing  for  bis  o\\  n 
safety;  but  proposed  to  cross  tbe  river  witb  bim,  and  put 
bimin  tbe  way  of  returning  to  New  York  by  land.  Andre 
was  disappointed,  but  was  tinally  induced  to  put  Smitb's 
overcoat  on  over  bis  uniform,  and  about  sunset  tbey  started, 
crossing  at  King's  Ferry.  After  proceeding  about  eigbt 
miles  tbey  were  sto]iped  by  an  American  patrol.  Arnold's 
pass  satisfied  tbe  officer  in  command,  but  be  warned  tbem 
against  proceeding  furtber  at  niglit.  Tbey  stopped  and 
passed  tbe  nigbt. 

Tbe  next  morning  at  day-break  tbey  started  again.  an<l 
now  approacbed  what  was  called  tbe  "  neutral  ground,"  a 

1.  I  need  scarcely  say  I  have  no  a»ithority  for  the  above  dialogue,  but  every 
reader  may  judge  for  liimself  what  degree  of  probability  there  is  that  it  occurred. 
I  mention  this  because  tor  every  fact,  staled  without  ijualitlcation,  I  have  given  the 
authority,  or  have  had  authority  whitli  I  believed  sufficient. 


961 


HIS   TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


291 


part  of  the  the  country  some  thirty  miles  in  extent,  and 
lying  between  the  lines  of  the  two  armies;  after  going  two 
or  three  miles  further  towards  New  York,  Andre  and  Smith 
breakfasted  at  a  larm  house  and  then  parted;  Smith  return- 
ing home  and  Andre  going  on  towards  Xew  York,  cheerful, 
and  with  the  conviction  that  the  dangerous  part  of  his 
journey  was  over. 

As  he  was  proceeding,  he  was  arrested  in  a  wooded  glen 
by  three  men,  the  foremost  of  which  wore  a  uniform  indi- 
cating that  lie  belonged  to  the  Jiritish  army.  Andre, 
losing  all  caution,  imprudently  exclaimed,  "Gentlemen  I 
hope  you  belong  to  our  ])arty."  '  "  What  party?  "  was  the 
reply.  "  The  lower  party,"  said  Andre.  "  We  do,"  replied 
the  leader. 

Vndre,  thrown  entirely  off  his  guard,  immediately  de- 
ck •  d  himself  to  be  a  Ih-itish  officer;  that  he  had  been  np 
the  country  on  important  business,  and  must  not  be 
detained ;  drawing  out  his  gold  watch,  as  evidence  of  the  truth 
of  his  statement,  whereujwn  his  captors  avowed  themselves 
Americ;ms,  and  that  Andre  was  their  prisoner.  They  were 
yeomanry  of  the  neighborhood,  and  their  names  were  John 
Paulding,  Isaac  Van  Wort  and  David  Williams.  It  seems 
that  the  coat  of  Paulding,  which  had  misled  Andre,  was 
one  received  by  him  from  the  enemy  who  had  lately  held 
him  a  prisoner,  and  strij^ping  him  of  his  bettor  farmer's 
clothes,  had  given  him  this  coat  in  exchange. 

Andre,  now  too  late,  exhibited  his  pass,  which  if  exhibi- 
ted when  he  was  iirst  halted,  would  have  been  sufficient; 
but  now  he  having  avowed  himself  a  I'ritisli  officer,  they 
seized  the  bridle  of  his  horse,  ordered  him  to  dismount, 
searched  him,  and  in  his  l)oots  found  th"  concealed  papers, 
when  Paulding  exclaimed,  "My  God  !  he  is  a  spy."  ' 

Andre  now  offered  his  captors  any  sum  of  money,  goods, 

1.    living's  Washington. 


Ill 


fi 


'¥ 


'I 


202 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


'M 


any  tiling,  if  they  would  let  him  go.  These  offers  they 
refused,  and  conducted  their  prisoner  to  Lieut.  Colonel  Jame- 
son, who  commanded  the  post  at  New  Castle.  lie  imme- 
diately sent  the  jiapers  found  in  Andre's  boots,  by  express 
to  General  Washington,  who  was  returning  from  a  visit  to 
the  French  at  Hartford.  Andre  begged  Colonel  Jameson 
to  inform  his  commander  at  West  Point,  that  Jolcn  Ander- 
son, though  bearing  his  pass,  was  detained  as  a  prisoner. 
Jameson  M'rote  a  statement  of  the  fa  ..is  to  General  Arncdd, 
and  thoughtlessly  sent  it  forward  with  the  prisoner. 
Major  Tallmadge,  soon  after, coming  in,  and  learning  the 
facts,  and  suspecting  something  was  wrong,  induced  Jame- 
son to  send  an  express  after  the  officer  who  had  Andre  in 
charge,  with  orders  to  bring  him  back  to  Xew  Castle,  but 
the  letter  to  Arnold  was  permitted  to  go  forward  to  its  des- 
tination. 

Andre  was  then  conducted  to  Colonel  Sheldon,  and  there 
being  informed  that  the  papers  found  on  his  person  had 
been  forwarded  to  Washington,  he  wrote  to  him  a  letter, 
frankly  declaring  his  real  character,  and  stating  the  circum- 
stances of  his  expedition  and  capture,  as  follows  : 

"  Majou  Andre  to  General  Wasuinotox.         ) 
"Salem,  'J4  September,  1780.  ) 

"  Sin: — What  I  have  as  yet  said  concerning  mj'self  was  in  the  justiKable 
attempt  to  be  extricated  ;  I  am  too  little  accustomed  to  duplicity  to  have 
succeeded. 

"  I  beg  your  Excellency  will  be  persuaded  that  no  alteration  in  the 
temper  of  my  mind,  or  apprehension  for  my  safety,  induces  me  to  take 
the  step  of  addressing  you,  but  that  it  is  to  rescue  myself  from  an  impu- 
tation of  having  assumed  a  mean  character  for  treacherous  purposes  or 
self-interest;  a  conduct  incompatible  with  the  principles  that  actuate  me, 
as  well  as  with  my  condition  in  life. 

"  It  is  to  vindicate  my  fame  that  I  speak,  and  not  to  solicit  security. 

"  The  person  in  your  possession  is  Major  John  Andre,  adjutant-general 
to  the  British  army. 

"Tlie  influence  of  one  commander  in  the  army  of  his  adversary  is  an 
advantage  taken  in  war.    A  correspondence  for  this  purpose  I  held  aa 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


293 


oonfidtntial  (in  the  present  instance)  •with  his  Excellency,  Sir  Honiy 
I'linton. 

"To  favor  it,  I  agreed  to  moot  upon  ground  not  within  the  posts  of 
either  party,  a  person  who  was  to  give  nio  intelligence;  I  came  up  in 
the  Vulture  man-of-war  for  this  etfoct,  and  was  lotchod  by  a  hoat  from 
the  ship  to  the  beach,  lieinj:  there,  I  was  told  that  the  approach  of  day 
would  prevent  my  return,  and  that  I  must  be  concealed  until  the  next 
night.     I  was  in  my  regimentals,  and  had  fa'rly  risked  my  person. 

"  Against  my  stipulation,  my  intention,  and  without  my  knowledge 
beforehand,  I  was  conducted  within  one  of  your  posts.  Your  Excellency 
may  conceive  my  sensiition  on  this  occasion,  and  will  imagine  h jw  muth 
more  must  I  have  been  atfected  by  a  refusal  to  re-conduct  me  back  the  next 
night  as  I  had  been  brought.  Thus  become  a  prisoner,  I  had  to  concert 
my  escape.  I  quitted  my  uniform,  and  was  passed  another  way  in  tho 
night,  without  the  American  posts  to  neutral  ground,  and  informed  I  was 
beyond  all  armed  parties,  and  left  to  press  for  New  York.  1  was  taken  at 
Tan-ytown  by  some  volunteers. 

"Thus,  as  I  have  had  the  honor  to  relate,  was  I  betrayed  (being  ad- 
jutant-general of  the  British  army)  into  the  vile  condition  of  an  enemy 
in  disguise  within  your  posts. 

"Having  avowed  myself  a  British  otficer,  I  have  nothing  to  reveal 
but  what  relates  to  myself,  which  is  true  on  the  honor  of  an  otlicer  and  a 
gentleman. 

"The  request  I  have  to  nuvko  to  your  Excellency,  and  I  am  conscious 
I  address  myself  well,  is,  th.at  in  any  rigor  policy  may  dictato,  a  decency 
of  conduct  towards  me  may  mark,  that  though  nnfortunate  I  am  branded 
with  nothing  dishonorable,  as  no  motive  could  be  mine  but  the  service 
of  my  King,  and  as  I  was  involuntarily  an  im|  ostor, 

"Another  request  is,  that  1  may  be  permitted  to  write  an  open  letter  to 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  another  to  a  friend  for  clothes  and  linen. 

"  I  take  the  liberty  to  mention  the  condition  of  some  gentlemen  at 
Charleston,  who,  being  either  <ni  parole  or  under  protection,  were  engaged 
in  a  conspiracy  against  us.  Though  their  situation  is  not  similar,  they 
are  objects  who  may  bo  set  in  exchange  for  me,  or  are  persons  whom  the 
treatment  I  receive  might  atfect. 

"It  is  no  less,  sir,  in  a  confidence  of  the  generosity  of  your  mind, 
than  on  account  of  your  superior  station,  that  I  have;  chosen  to  importune 
you  with  this  letter.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  groc'it  respect.  Sir, 
your  p]xcellency's  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"John  Andke,  Adjutant-General."' 

1.    Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  VII,  p.  531. 


•*, 


; 

I 
i. 

'    i: 

li' 

1 

i 
■ 

i. 
[ 

i 

1;  ^ 

^  t  :1a 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

ARNOLD'S    ESCAPE— ANDRE'S    EXECUTION. 

"  Is  tliero  not  some  chosen  eurse, 
Some  liiildeii  tluiti(UT  in  tlie  stores  of  Heaven, 
K(m1  Willi  iiiicoiiiinun  wrath  to  blast  the  man, 
AVliu  seeks  his  greatness  by  liis  euuntry'a  ruiu  ?  " 


Arnold  Hears  of  Andre's    Capture— Fmf-s   to    the   Vulture— VVastiingtov 
Akkives  at  West  I'oint— Mrs.  Arnold's  Distress— Arnold's  Letter  to  W'Asit- 

INGTON  DECLARIN(3    Heh  INNOCENCE,    AND    BEUGINO    WASHINGTON    TO    PROTECT 

Her— Declares  IIls  Military  Family  Innocent— Hannah  Arnold's  Letter 
beg(iino  the  i'ltyof  all  her  fuiends,  and  praying  them  not  to  forsake 
Her— Andre's  Trial  as  a  Spy— Efforts  to  Save  His  Life— His  Execution- 
Arnold's  Alleged  Offer  to  Give  Himself  Up,  to  Save  the  Life  op  Andre. 

On  tlie  (lay  of  the  treasonable  conference  between  Arnold 
and  Andre,  on  the  hanks  of  the  Hudson,  AV^ashingtou  met 
the  French  officers  at  Hartford.  With  him,  besides  his  own 
military  family,  were  LaFayette  and  his  suite,  and  General 
Knox  and  his  staff.  On  the  morning  of  the  25t  ,  Septem- 
ber, having  sent  on  tlieir  baggage,  and  a  message  to  Gen- 
eral Arnold  that  the  party  would  breakfast  with  him  on 
tliat  day,  AVashington's  party  were  very  early  in  the  saddle, 
riding  towards  Arnold's  headquarters  at  the  Robinson 
House.  As  they  approaclied  that  place,  "Washington  turned 
off  from  the  direct  route,  to  visit  the  defenses  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Hudson.  Lafayette,  with  the  politeness  of  his 
naticm  and  the  gallantry  of  a  young  soldier,  suggested  to 
the  general  that  Mrs.  Arnold  would  be  waiting  breakfast 

(294) 


Ills    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREAS(^)X. 


295 


m\-i] 


fc>r  them.  "Ah,  Miirquis,"  replied  Washiii^tun,  "you 
y(iiin<^  men  are  all  in  love  with  Mrs.  Arnold.  I  see  you 
are  ea_<^er  to  be  with  her  as  soon  as  possible.  Go  and  break- 
last  with  her,  and  tell  her  not  to  wait  for  me.  I  must  ride 
down  and  examine  the  redoubts  on  this  side  the  river,  but 
will  be  with  you  shortly."  Lafayette  and  Kn(,»x,  however, 
accompanied  "VVashin<;ton,  but  Col.  Ilamiltoti  and  others  of 
the  start'  went  directly  to  Arnold's  head(juarters,  bearing 
Washinifton's  message  to  Mrs.  Arnold. 

In  acct>rdance  with  his  request,  they  all  sat  down  to 
breakfast.  Mrs.  Arnold  with  her  child  had  arrived  from 
J^hiladelphia  a  few  days  previous.  She,  it  is  said,  received 
her  guests  cordially,  and  was  as  usual,  bright,  happy,  gay 
and  fascinating.  Arnold  was  grave  and  thoughtful.  Well 
he  might  be. 

AV'ashington  had  arrived  two  days  sooner  than  ho  had 
been  exjtected,  and  this  was  the  eventful  day  on  which  the 
treason  was  to  be  consummated.  He  had  arranged  with 
Andre  that  the  garrison  should  be  scattered  through  the 
passes  and  defiles  of  the  highlands,  and  the  enemy's  ships, 
with  the  British  troops  on  board,  were  on  this  very  day  to 
ascend  the  river  and  take  possession  of  the  post;  and  now 
came  AVashington  unexi)ectedlv  to  disconcert  evervthinir. 

In  the  midst  of  the  breakfast  a  horseman  galloped  to  the 
door.  It  was  Lieutenant  Allen,  M'itli  Jameson's  letter  to 
Arnold,  containing  the  startling  statement  that  Andre  is 
a  prisoner,  and  the  papers  found  in  his  boots  have  been 
forwarded  to  "Washington.  It  was  a  terrible  crisis  in  the 
life  of  Arnold.  "  Yet,"  ?ays  Irving,  "  in  this  awful  mo- 
ment he  gave  evidence  of  that  quickness  of  mind  which 
had  won  laurels  for  him  when  in  the  jtath  of  duty."' 

With  a  self-control  that  was  amazing,  ho  excused  him- 
self to  his  guests,  retired,  ordered  a  horse,  and  then  going 

1.    Irving's  Wusbington,  Vul.  IV,  p.  1C8. 


20G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


to  Mrs.  Arnold's  room,  sent  for  lier,  and  disclosed  his  per- 
ilous position,  Si\yin<j;:  "I  must  fly  instantly!  My  life 
de])ends  on  my  reaching  the  British  lines  without  detec- 
tion." 

Startled,  bewildered,  and  completely  overcome,  she  fell 
senseless  at  his  feet;*  he  laid  her  ujton  the  hed,  calling  a 
servant  to  her  assistance,  and  then  returning  again  to  the 
breakfast-room,  he  asked  his  guests  to  excuse  him;  he  said 
he  must  hasten  to  AV^est  Point  to  ]>repare  for  the  reception 
of  the  General;  and  then  springing  upon  his  horse,  ready 
saddled  at  the  door,  he  gallojied  down  a  steep,  along  what  is 
still  called  "Arnold's  }>ath,"  towards  the  landing  place, 
where  his  six-oared  barjre  was  moored.  How  terrible  must 
have  been  his  feelings  as  he  dashed  down  the  hill,  leaving 
behind  him  his  wife  and  child,  countr}^,  friends,  honor  and 
faith!  iSot  now  could  he  exclaim,  as  in  other  days:  "I 
am  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  know  no  fear!"  Like 
guilty  Macbeth,  ho  could  not  respond*  "Amen"  to  "God 
bless  our  patriot  cause." 

"Nfvcr  had  shaken  his  nerves  in  fight.'" 
But  as  his  horse's  hoofs  struck  lire  from  the  rocks  in  his 
headlong  speed,  the  very  echo  seemed  the  voice  of  the 
avenger.  Danger  and  death  were  behind  him,  and  what 
was  infinitely  worse,  dishonor  was  before  him  and  around 
him.  From  death  he  might  esca])e  by  flight,  but  from  dis- 
lionor — this  man  who  so  loved  glory — from  dishonor  for  him 
there  was  from  henceforth  forever  no  escape  ! 

Seizing  his  pistols  from  his  holsters,  he  sprang  into  the 
barge  and  directed  the  oarsmen  to  pull  into  the  middle  of 

1.  "  Pr.  Eustis,  who  had  charge  of  the  hospital  in  the  vicinity,  was  calkd  to  the 
assistance  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  whose  situation  was  ahirniiiig.  He  found  her  at  (he 
head  of  the  staircase,  in  great  dishabille,  her  hair  dischcvelod,  knowing  no  one, 
and  frantic,  in  the  arms  of  her  maid  and  Arnold's  two  aids,  struggling  to  liberate 
herself  frnm  them.  She  was  carried  back  to  her  chamber,  and  fell  into  convulsions, 
which  lasted  several  hours.  '—T/m<c/ici'8  American Hevuhition, pp.  471-2. 


■yw 


MM 


aeens 


HIS    rATKIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


297 


tlie  river,  and  then  row  with  speed  for  Teller's  Point,  sayinj; 
lie  must  hasten,  as  he  wished  to  return  and  meet  General 
"VVashini:;ton.  As  the  hoat  ]>assed  Verplank's  Point, 
Arnold  raised  a  white  handkercihief  and  ordered  the  boat- 
men to  row  directly  to  the  Vulture,  which  was  in  sifj^ht. 
All  the  way  he  sat  in  the  prow,  his  pistols  either  in  his 
hand  or  within  his  reach.  lie  would  not  have  been  captured 
alive.  The  boat  reached  the  schooner,  and  the  fugitive 
springinj!^  on  deck,  was  safe  from  ])ursuit. 

After  Arnold  had  had  an  interview  with  the  commander 
of  the  Vulture,  he  came  on  deck,  and  is  reported  to 
have  said  to  the  bargemen,  who  had  taken  him  to  the 
schooner :  "  My  lads,  I  have  quitted  the  rchcl  army 
and  joined  the  standard  of  his  Brittanic  !Majosty.  If  yoii 
will  join  me  I  will  make  sergeants  and  corporals  of  you  all, 
and  for  yon,  Larvey,  (who  was  c  ixswain),  I  will  do  sonie- 
tliing  more."  Larvey  indignantly  rej)lied,  "  Xo,  sir,  one 
coat  is  enough  for  me  to  wear  at  a  time."*  General  Heath, 
in  his  memoirs,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  incident : 

'*  When  Arnold  had  yot  under  tho  guns  of  the  Vulture,  he  told  Cor- 
poral Larvey,  who  was  cockswain  of  the  bar<jo,  that  he  was  going  on 
hoard  the  ship,  not  to  return,  and  that  if  he,  Larvey,  would  stay  with 
him,  he  should  have  a  commission  in  the  British  service.  To  this  Lar- 
vey, who  was  a  smart  fellow,  replied,  that  he  would  be  d — d  if  he  fought 
on  both  sides.  The  General  replied  that  ho  would  send  him  on  shore. 
Arnold  then  told  the  barge  crew  that  if  any  of  them  would  stay  with 
him  they  should  be  treated  well,  but  if  they  declined  staying,  they 
should  be  sent  on  shore.  One  or  two  stayed,  the  rest  with  the  cockswain, 
were  sent  on  shore  in  the  ships'  boat  ;  the  barge  was  kept.  Larvey,  for 
his  fidelity,  was  made  a  sargeant.  He  thought  he  merited  more,  and  that 
he  ought  to  have  had  as  much  as  Arnold  promised  him.  He  continued 
uneasy  until,  at  his  repeated  recjuest,  he  was  allowed  to  leave  the  army."* 

These  are,  probably,  the  facts  in  relation  to  the  crew. 


4 


1.  Thatcher,  p.  472. 

2.  Heath's  Memoirs,  1798,  p.  255. 

This  aeofiunt  is  coiillrmedby  I.arvcy  himself,  as  given  by  Eu.sti8,  In  Moss.  Hist 
h~oc.  Col.,  Vol.  XIV,  p.  52. 


298 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


An  lioiir  after  Arnold's  flight,  Washington  arrived  at 
the  Itobinson  llonsc,  and  being  infonncd  that  Mrs.  Arnold 
was  in  lior  room  ill,  and  that  Aniokl  had  gone  to  AVest 
Point  to  ])re|)are  to  receive  him,  he  hastily  took  his  break- 
fast, and  he  and  ])arty,  with  the  exception  of  Hamilton, 
started  for  the  fortress,  leaving  word  that  ho  would  return 
to  dinner. 

As  the   party   were  crossing  the  Hudson,  between   the 

overhanging  cliti's,  Washington,  looking  up  at   the  grand 

scenery  annmd  him,  said  :  "(lentlemen,  I  am  glad  (Jeneral 

Arnold  has  g<jne  before  us,  tor  we  shall  now  have  a  salute, 

and  the  roaring  of  the  cannon  will  have  a  line  eltect  among 

these  mountains." 

"The  castU'd  crag  of  Dradienfols 

Frowns  o'er  the  widu  and  windiny  Rhine  " 

with    no    more    wild  and    ])ictnres(|ue   beauty   than    the 

fortress  of  AVest  Point  rose  above  the  waters  of  the  majestic 

Hudson. 

But  no  salute  greeted  the  ears  of  Washington,  and  as  his 
boat  approached  the  western  shore,  an  otiicer  was  seen 
winding  his  M'ay  down  the  side  of  the  rocky  cliff.  It  was 
Colonel  Lamb,  who  seemed  very  much  surprised,  and 
apologized  for  not  receiving  the  Commander-in-Chief  with 
the  honors  due  to  his  rank.  '"  Is  not  General  Arnold  here  V 
Inquired  AV^ashington. 

"No,  sir;  he  has  not  been  liere  for  two  days  past,  nor 
have  I  heard  from  him  in  that  time." 

Washington  remained  during  the  morning,  ascending  to 
Fort  Putnam,  and  inspecting  the  fortifications.  Meanwhile, 
the  messenger  from  Jameson,  with  the  papers  found  upon 
the  person  of  Andre,  having  missed  Washington  on  his  way 
from  Hartford,  and  hearing  that  the  General  liad  passed 
him  by  a  different  road,  had  returned  and  followed  him  to 
the  Robinson  House,  and  on  his  way  had  taken  and  brought 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


200 


tlie  letter  from  Andre  to  "\VjiHliini;toii,  disclosing  tl.c  con- 
ej)ir!U'y.  These  letters  and  |>iii.ers  heing  presented  to 
(yolonel  lliiiniltun,  WHslMni^ton's  contidential  aid,  were 
opened  and  read  by  liim.  Hasten in*^  to  find  Washington, 
he  met  the  (ieneral  and  party  coming  up  from  the 
river.  Hamilton  addressed  a  few  words  to  him  in  a  low 
tone,  and  they  retired  into  the  house.  The  ]>apers  told  their 
own  too  sad  story — the  leader  of  the  daring  expedition 
through  the  wilderness,  wounded  at  Queltec,  the  hero  of 
Saratoga,  he  who,  with  the  militia  had  driven  Tryon  from 
his  native  State,  was  a  traitor,  and  had  fled  to  the  enemy! 
Hamilton  was  ordered  to  mount  and  ride  with  speed  to  try 
to  overtake  and  capture  the  fugitive.  In  vain;  Arnold  had 
had  four  or  five  hours  the  start. 

Washington  was  c.'dm;  calling  to  Lafayette  and  Knox, 
he  told  them  the  story,  and  said,  sadly,  "  Whom  can  wo 
trust  now?" 

James  Fenimore  Cooper,  in  giving  an  account  of  this 
incident,  derived,  as  is  supposed,  from  Lafayette,  saj's: 
"  When  Washington  and  Lafayette  met,  the  former  })ut 
the  report  of  Janiesun  into  the  hands  of  the  lattei ,  and  said 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  'Arnold  is  a  traitor,  and  lias  fled  to 
the  British.'     General  Knox  was  present   it  this  scene."  ' 

Hamilton  returnci  and  rej)orted  Ariu  d's  escaj)e,  and 
brought  with  him  the  following  letter  from  the  fugitive, 
which  had  been  sent  ashore  by  a  flag  from  the  Vulture  : 

"Ox  BoAiiD  THE  Vui.tuhk,  25  September,  1780. 
"  Gm, — llie  heart  which  is  conscious  of  its  own  rectitude,  cannot 
attempt  to  palliate  v,  step  which  the  world  may  censure  as  wron^', 
I  have  ever  acted  from  a  principle  of  love  to  my  country  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  unliappy  contest  between  Great  IJritain  and 
the  Colonies.  The  same  principle  of  love  to  my  country  actuates  my  pres- 
ent conduct,  however  it  may  appear  inconsistent  to  the  world,  who  very 
seldom  judge  right  of  any  man's  actions. 

1.    Cooper's  Notions  of  the  Americans,  picked  up  by  a  TraveUng  Bachelor,  p.  214, 


noo 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD, 


*'  I  liavo  no  favor  to  nsk  for  myself.  I  have  too  ofton  oxporionced  \ho 
inffratitiule  of  my  country  to  attempt  it ;  but,  from  the  known  humanity 
of  your  Kxcellency,  I  am  indiiceil  to  nsk  your  protection  for  Mrs.  Arnold 
from  every  insult  and  injury  that  a  mistaken  veuKcance  of  my  country 
nuiy  expose  her  to.  It  ouj^ht  to  fidl  only  on  me  ;  she  ia  as  jfood  and 
«H  innocent  as  an  anf^el,  and  is  inciipaltlo  of  doinp  wronjj.  1  hej;  she 
nuiy  lie  permitted  to  return  to  lier  iriends  in  l'jilii(lel|iliia,  or  to  come 
to  me,  as  she  may  choose.  From  your  Kxcelli-ncy  I  have  no  fears  on  hi-r 
account,  but  she  may  sutler  from  the  mistaken  fury  of  the  country. 

"  I  have  to  request  that  the  enclosed  letter  may  be  delivered  to  Mrs. 
Arnold,  and  she  Ix;  permitted  to  write  to  me. 

"  I  have  also  to  ask  that  my  clothes  and  bagfjafre,  which  arc  of  little 
consetjuence,  may  bo  sent  to  me  ;  if  required,  their  value  shall  be  paid 
in  money. 

"J  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  regard  and  esteem,  your  Excel- 
lency's most  obedient,  humble  servant.  B.  Ahnold. 

"  N.  B.— In  justice  to  the  pontlemen  of  my  family,  Colonel  Varick  and 
]\Iiijor  Franks,  I  think  myself  in  honor  bound  to  declare  that  they,  as 
well  as  Joshua  Smith,  Esq.  (who  1  know  is  suspected),  are  totally 
i^fuorant  of  any  transactions  of  mine,  that  they  had  reason  to  believe 
were  injurious  to  the  public.  B.  A." 

The  paraf^raph  in  Arnold's  letter  in  relation  to  his  wife, 
declaring  that  "she  is  as  good  and  as  innocent  as  an  angel, 
and  as  incapahle  of  doing  wrong,"  shows  his  devotion  to 
her  in  this  hour  of  supreme  peril  and  desolation,  and  liis 
efforts  to  prt  '^nt  unjust  su.s])ieion  falling  upon  his  military 
famih',  Colonel  Varick  and  Major  Franks,  are  honorable  to 
him.  Let  us  not  overlook  any  bright  sjiot  in  the  character 
now  blackened  with  treachery.  In  the  meantime,  Wash- 
ington took  every  precaution  against  an  attack  by  the 
enemy,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  no  one  of  Arnold's 
military  fomily,  nor  any  among  liis  personal  friends,  was  to 
any  extent  implicated  in  his  treachery.  AVashington  did 
not  betray  any  unusual  excitement  or  anxiety.  "When 
<linner  was  announced,  he  said:  "Come  gentlemen;  since 
Mrs.  Arnold  is  ill,  and  the  General  is  absent,  let  us  sit 
down  without  ceremony." 

Mrs.  Arnold  remained  in  her  room,  crushed  with  sorrow 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


301 


and  anxiety,  atul  in  a  state  horderitii^  on  plironsy.  Arnold 
did  not  overestimate  the  <]fenero8ity  and  oliivalry  of  AVasli- 
ington  when  he  be^'ged  his  ])rotection  I'ur  her.  AVashinj^ton 
rei^anh'd  her  with  the  (h'('[)est  Kvtnpathy  antl  coniinisera- 
tion,  hdievini^  her  i^noKiat  of  all  previous  kno\vled<;e  of 
her  husband's  ;>uilt.  AVhen  lie  deliven.Ml  to  her  the  letter 
which  her  luisbund  had  enclosed  in  the  one  to  himself,  ho 
told  her  that  he  had,  in  acconlance  with  his  <luty,  done  all 
in  his  power  to  have  her  husband  arrested,  but  not  havin<^ 
succeeded,  it  gave  him  pleasure  to  assure  her  of  his  safety.' 

The  following  letter  from  Hamilton  to  Miss  Schuyler, 
the  daughter  of  General  Schuyler,  to  whom  ho  was  thou 
engaged,  gives  a  touching  picture  of  the  interview  between 
Washington  and  Mrs.  Arnold,  and  shows  how  vivid  the 
impression  her  distress  and  beauty  made  upon  this  young 
soldier: ' 

"September  25,  1780. 

"  Arnold,  hearing  of  the  plot  boinf;  il"tfctei1,  immediately  fled  to  tho 
enemy.  I  went  in  pursuit  of  bim,  but  was  much  too  late,  :nd  could 
hardly  regret  the  disappointment,  when,  on  my  retuni,  I  saw  an  amiable 
woman,  frantic  with  distress  for  the  loss  of  a  husband  she  tenderly 
loved,  a  traitor  to  his  country  and  to  his  fame;  a  disgrace  to  his  connec- 
tions; it  was  the  most  affecting  scene  I  ever  was  witness  to.  She,  for  a 
considerable  time,  entirely  lost  herself.  The  Geneial  went  up  to  see  her 
and  she  upbraided  him  with  being  in  a  plot  to  murder  her  child.  One 
moment  she  raved;  another  she  melt<;d  into  tears.  Sometimes  she 
pressed  her  infant  to  her  bosom  and  lamented  its  fate,  occasioned  by  tho 
imprudence  of  its  father,  in  a  manner  that  wouhl  have  pierced  insensi- 
bility itself.  All  the  s.veetness  of  beauty,  all  the  lo  "ness  of  innocence, 
all  the  tenderness  of  a  wife,  and  all  the  fondness  >^  a  mother  showed 
themselves  in  her  appearance  and  conduct.  We  have  every  reason  to 
believe  that  she  was  entirely  unacquainted  with  tho  plan,  and  that  the 
first  knowledge  of  it  was  when  Arnold  went  to  tell  her  ho  must  banish 
himself  from  his  country  and  from  her  forever.  She  instantly  fell  uito 
a  convulsion,  and  he  left  her  in  that  situation. 

"  This  morning  she  is  more  composed.     I  paid  her  a  visit,  and  endeav- 

1.  Irving's  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  )).  145.  , 

2.  Hamilton  papers,  Vol.  I,  p.  478. 


f? 


302 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


ored  to  soothe  her  by  every  niothorl  in  my  power ;  though  yon  may 
imagine  she  is  not  easily  to  be  consoled.  Added  to  her  other  distresses, 
she  h  very  apprehensive  the  resentment  other  country  will  iall  upon  her 
(who  is  only  unfortunate)  for  the  guilt  of  her  husbapd. 

"I  have  tried  to  persuade  her  that  her  fears  are  ill  founded  ;  but  she  will 
not  be  convinced.  She  received  us  in  bed,  with  every  circumstance  that 
would  interest  our  sympathy,  and  her  sutierings  were  so  eloquent  that  I 
wished  rnyself  her  brother,  to  liave  a  right  to  become  her  defender.  As 
it  is,  I  have  entreated  her  to  enable  me  to  give  her  proofs  of  my  friend- 
ship. Could  I  forgive  Arnold  for  .sacrificing  his  honor,  reputation,  and 
duty,  I  could  not  forgive  him  for  acting  a  part  that  must  have  forfeited 
the  esteem  of  so  fine  a  woman.  At  present  she  almost  forgets  his  crime 
in  his  misfortunes,  and  her  horror  at  the  guilt  of  the  traitor,  is  lost  in  her 
love  of  the  man.  lint  a  virtuous  mind  cannot  long  esteem  a  base  one  ; 
and  time  will  make  her  despise,  if  it  cannot  make  her  hate. 

"  A.  Hamilton." 

On  the  evening  of  the  25th  tlie  Ynltnre  sailed  to  Kew 
York,  carrying  General  Arnold,  who  reached  that  city  the 
next  morning,  and  coninmnicated  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  the 
lirst  intelligence  he  received  of  the  capture  of  Andre. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  conceive  a  more  j)ainful  position 
than  that  which  Arnold  now  occupied.  Going  into  the 
British  head(piarters  with  the  cclat  of  a  great,  though 
guilty  exploit,  by  which  it  was  expected  the  war  might  be 
brought  to  an  early  close,  was  one  thing;  to  fly  to  these 
(juarters  for  reinge,  a  detected  traitor,  and  a  ]iowerless, 
valueless  fugitive,  having  accum])lished  nothing  but  the  ex- 
posure of  his  own  treachery,  and  the  hazard  of  Andre's  life, 
was  another.' 

"Without  antici])ating  the  narration  of  future  events,  I 
pause  to  say  that  Arnold's  life  from  that  day  forward,  though 
he  received  many  gracious  favors  from  the  King  and  the  tory 
j)arty  in  England,  yet  his  life  was  a  sad  one,  and  adds  an- 
other, and  one  of  the  most  striking  and  conspicuous  in 
history,  to  the  verification  of  the  truth  that  "the  way  of 
the  transgressor  is  hard." 

1.    "  He  stood  alone— a  rcnceade 
Against  the  country  he  betrayed." 


r«1 1 

:  i  i 

r    ! 


ms    TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


303 


The  news  of  Arnok^'s  treason  created  a  ■po])u]iir  furore 
against  him,  the  violence  of  which  is  indescrihahle.  None 
felt  the  disgrace  more  keeidy  than  his  devotee^  sij<ter.  81ie 
liad  been  proud  of  lier  brother,  and  had  rejoiced  with  all  a 
sister's  fondness  in  his  glory,  and  she  deeply  sympathized 
in  his  wrongs.  But  now  the  message  from  Edith  to  Morton 
in  Old  Mortality',  would  have  aptly  expressed  her  feelings: 
"Tell  h'm  that  Edith  Bellenden  has  wei)t  more  over  his  fallen 
characier,  blighted  prospects,  and  disgraced  name,  than 
over  all  her  own  sufferings."  No  more  could  she  ])roudly 
write,  as  she  had  done  in  his  hour  of  victory,  "'Jien'  is 
eager  to  hear  everything  in  relation  to  his  father."  '  Yet 
she  stood  by  him  faithfully  and  heroically,  and  no  popular 
hatred  coidd  ever  alienate  her  attachment.  She  could  and 
did  always  say,  "  Your  health  and  prosperity  are  dear  to 
me  as  my  own."  It  will  be  rememberd  that  she  addressed 
a  letter  from  Philadelphia  to  Mrs.  Arnold,  at  "West  Point, 
about  the  middle  of  Se])tember,  This  letter,  full  of  hope 
and  affection,  speaks  fondly,  as  a  tender  maiden  sister 
would,  of  the  sons  of  General  Arnold,  the  two  elder  of 
which,  Ben  and  Bichard,  were  at  school  in  ^Maryland,  and 
the  younger,  Henry,  was  with  her  in  Philadelphia.  AVhen 
the  tidings  of  her  brother's  flight  to  the  enemy  reached  her, 
she  wrote  to  an  old  friend  in  Xew  Haven  as  follows: 

"  Dkau  Sru: —  My  iini'ortnuutc  lirothiT  wroto  mo  sonn^  time  since  that 
ho  liad  ilesirod  you  to  sontl  for  my  licil  from  Mil,),  .\twator,  ami  (o  forward 
it  to  him  If  it  was  not  done  bofore  the  distreHstul  stoj  ho  has  taken,  I  bcff 
you  woukl  desire  Maj.  Atwater  to  koep  it  until  I  send  for  it.  as  'tis  most 
probable,  if  my  wretihed  life  is  continueil.  tliat  I  shall  one  day  quit  this 
land  of  stranfrers,  and  return  to  that  of  my  birih.  JJe  so  pood  as  to  de- 
sire Mr.  Shipman  to  keep  the  money  for  the  china,  unless  he  has  paid  it 
to  you;   if  he  has,  you  wil'  be  so  good  as  to  reserve  it  in  your  hands. 

1.    "  Worse  than  absence,  worse  tlinn  dcnth, 
She  we])t  her  brotlicr's  sullied  fiiine, 
And  fired  wiih  all  the  pride  of  birth, 
She  wept  a  soldier's  injured  name." 


304 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Let  rae  ask  the  pity  of  all  my  fricnils;  there  never  was  a  more  proper 
object  of  it.  Do  write.  Forsake  me  not  in  my  distress,  I  conjure  you, 
but  lot  mo  hear  by  all  opportunities.  I  am  plad  Captain  Sloan  is  for- 
tunate.    May  you  all  be  so,  prays  the  miserable      Hanxaii  Aunold. 

"The  little  unfortunate  boys  in  Maryland  are  well,  as  is  Harry,  who 
desires  his  love.  I  was  so  swallowed  up  in  my  own  distress,  I  had  for^'ot 
yours,  in  the  loss  of  your  little  son!  Hut  mourn  not  for  him,  my  friends, 
he  has  escaped  the  snares  and  miseries  of  a  wretched,  deceitful  and 
sorrowing  vale  of  tears.  H.  A."  ' 

Tlie  above  most  pathetic  letter  was  written  from  Philadel- 
]>liia,  and  while  po}>uhn-  fury  was  raging  with  the  greatest  vio- 
lence against  Arnttld.  1  anticipate  the  narration  so  far  as  to 
say  that  she  made  her  home  during  life  with  llichard  and 
llenrj,  sons  of  lier  brother  by  his  first  wife,  and  that  her 
sisterly  devotion  was  never  forgotten  by  liim.  When  an 
exile  from  his  country,  and  amid  all  changes  of  fortune,  he 
never  forgot  to  remit  to  her  a  pension,  and  this  was  relig- 
iously continued  after  General  Arnold's  death,  by  his 
M'idow. 

On  the  the  20th  Se])tember,  i\[ajor  Tallmadge,  having  in. 
custody,  Andre,  arrived  at  the  liobinson  IIougo.  Washing- 
ton declined  seeing  the  prisoner,  but  gave  orders  that  he 
should  be  treated  with  every  courtesy  and  civility  consistent 
with  Ins  absolute  security. 

Major  Tallmadge,  and  indeed  everyone  who  was  brought 
into  personal  intercourse  with  Andre,  was  fascinated  by  his 
engaging  qualities,     lie  says  : 

"  It  often  drew  tears  from  my  eyes  to  find  him  so  af^roeable  in  conver- 
sation on  different  subjects,  wln'n  1  reiiected  on  his  future  fate,  aud  that, 
too,  aa  I  feared,  so  near  at  hand." 

While  Tallmadge  w.is  on  the  way  with  Andre  to  the 
American  head-quarters,  their  conversation  became  very  cor- 
dial and  frank,  and  finallv  Andre  asked  Tallmadge  in  what 
light  he  would   be  regarded  by  General  Washington  and  a 

1.    From  a  copy  In  possession  of  Chicago  His.  Society. 


ins    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


30o 


military  tribunal.     Tallinadgc  evaded  an  answer,  but  being 
pressed,  he  finally  said  :  ' 

"  I  had  a  much-loved  class-trate  in  Yale  CoUogo,  by  the  name  ol 
Nathan  Hale,  who  entered  the  army  in  177">.  Iium'diatfly  after  th»! 
battle  of  Loiifi:  Islnnd,  fioneral  \Vashinf,4on  wanted  inf  )rmation  rospjct- 
ingtheHtrenj,'tli,  position  and  probable  inovcm  Mitsof  tlieennemy.  Ciijytain 
Hale  tendered  his  services,  went  over  to  lirooklyn,  antl  was  taken  just 
as  he  waspassinf^  the  outposts  of  the  enemy  on  his  return  f^aid  I,  with 
emphasis:  'Do  i/on  remember  the  .sequel  of  the  story?"  'Yes,'  s-aid 
Andre,  '  he  was  hanged  as  a  spy  !  But  you  surely  do  not  consider  his 
case  and  mine  alike?'  'Yes,  precisely  similar;  and  similar  will  be 
your  fate!  '" 

The  arrival  of  Arnold  in  New  York,  and  the  news  of 
Andre's  ca])ture,  caused  a  £i;reat  sensation  in  the  ]>ritish 
army.  Andre  was  very  po]>u]ar,  and  an  especial  favorite 
with  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Clinton  and  Arnold  and 
Kobinson,  conferred  together  as  to  the  means  of  obtaining 
the  release  of  Andre.  Arnold  wrote  a  letter  to  Clinton 
assuming  the  responsibility  for  Andre's  conduct,  declaring 
that  he  came  to  him  under  the  protection  of  a  flag  of  truce, 
and  that  he  gave  him  pass]>ort9  to  go  to  White  IMains,  on 
his  return  to  New  York."     This  letter,  enclosed  in  one  from 

1.  Irving's  Washington,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  It'i-l."i0. 

2.  The  following   is  Arnold's  letter,    copied  from  Pimrks'  Writings  of   Wash 
ington,  Vol.  VII,  p.p  ;!;!4-J. 

"  N'kw  Ydp.k.  20th  Septemlicr,  17S0. 

"Sm:  In  answer  to  yonr  Exocllency's  nu\«sii<.'»',  nsiieciing  your  Acljuinnt-Gcn- 
eral,  Miijur  .Andre,  luid  dosiriiii;  my  iiloa  of  the  reiisdn.s  why  ho  is  ditiiint  d,  lieiir,' 
uuderniy  pass|i(irt.s,  I  liave  till'  hoUDr  to  infcinii  ymi,  .*^ir,  that  I  apprelu'tid  a  few 
hours  must  return  Major  Anilre  to  your  K.xeelleiii'y's  Orders,  as  tliat  otliccr  is 
assuredly  under  tlie  iiruleetion  of  a  flag  nf  truee  sent  by  nie  to  liim  for  the  p\irpose 
of  a  conversation,  wliicli  I  requested  to  Imlil  with  him  relating  to  myself,  and 
which  I  wislicrt  to  conmiunicatc,  through  that  oflieer,  to  your  Excellency. 

"I  commanded  at  the  time  nt  West  I'uint,  and  hail  an  miduulited  riglit  to  send 
my  flag  of  truce  for  Major  Andre,  who  eanie  to  nio  midcr  that  pniti'ciion,  and, 
having  held  my  conversation  witli  liini.  I  delivered  him  conliilential  ))apers  in  my 
own  hand-writing,  to  deliver  to  your  Kxcelleiiey ;  llnnking  it  nuicli  |iroperer  lie 
sliould  return  liy  lancl,  I  directed  lum  to  make  usi;  of  the  I'eiuned  name  of  . I. dm 
Anderson,  under  which  he  had,  by  my  direction,  come  onshore,  and  gave  him  my 
pass])orts  U  go  to  the  White  I'lains  on  his  way  to  New  York.  This  oilicer  cannot, 
tlierefore,  fail  of  being  immediately  .sent  to  New  York,  as  he  was  invited  to  a  conver 
sation  with  me,  for  which  I  sent  him  a  llag  of  truce,  and  finally  gave  him  passports 

20 


306 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    i*RXOLD. 


liiinself,  Clinton  forwarded  to  Wut,liini,'tun,  claiming  that 
Andre  should  be  permitted  to  return  to  Xevv  York."  ' 

TJicse  papers  had  no  influence  upon  the  action  of  AVasli- 
in<;ton,  except  possibly  to  render  him  still  more  careful 
and  circumspect  in  regard  to  the  prisoner.  He  referred  the 
case  of  ]Vrajur  Andre  to  a  board  of  general  ofKcers,  Avhicli 
he  ordered  to  meet  on  the  20th,  and  dii-ected  that  after  a 
careful  examination,  this  board  should  report  their  opinion 
"of  the  light  in  which  he  onght  to  be  considered,  and 
the  punishment  that  ought  to  be  inflicted."  This  Board  con- 
sisted of  six  major-generals  and  eight  brigadier-generals." 
Hamilton,  in  a  letter  to  Col.  Laurens  has  given  many  very 
interesting  particulars  concerning  the  conduct,  trial  and 
execution  of  Andre. 

"  '  When  brought  bi'foro  thi;  Roanl  of  officers,  he  m<'t  with  every  in- 
dulgence, and  was  requested  to  answer  no  interrogatory  which  would 
even  emh.irniss  his  feelings.'  'He  frankly  confessed  ail  the  facts  relating 
to  himself.'  Indeed,  the  facts  were  not  controverted,  and  tlif  Hoard  re- 
])orted  that  Andre  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  spy,  and  agrei'ably  to  the 
law  and  usages  of  nations,  must  suH'er  death.  'Andre  met  the  result 
with  manly  firmness.'     '  I  foresee  ray  fate, '  said  he ;  '  and  though  I  \)iv.- 

f(ir  his  siifo  i-oturn  to  your  Excellency,  all  which  I  hn'l  then  a  rich'  to  do.  bcins;  in 
the  actual  service  of  Amorica,  under  the  orders  of  (knoral  Wa^liingtoii  and  com- 
manding general  at  West  Point  and  its  dependencies. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

"  B.  Arnold." 

1.  The  letter  from  Clinton  is  as  follows,  copied  from  Sparlis'  Writings  of  AVasli- 

ington,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  oM- 

"Nf.w  VoRK.'jnth  September,  1780. 

'■Sir:  Heing  Informed  that  the  King's  .Xdjutiuitgencral  in  America  lias  been 
stopped  under  Miijor-tieneral  Arnold's  passports,  and  is  detiiiiied  a  prisoner  by  your 
K.xcellency's  Army,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  yon,  sir,  that  I  permitted  Major 
Andre  to  go  to  Major-General  Arnold  at  the  jiarticnlar  r('(ini'st  of  that  general 
officer.  You  will  preceive,  Sir,  by  the  inclosed  paper,  that  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  to 
receive  Major  Andre,  and  passports  granted  for  his  return.  I  tlicrclbre  can  have  no 
doubt  but  your  E.'cccllency  will  immediately  diiecttliat  this  ollicer  have  permis- 
sion to  return  to  my  orders  at  New  Vorlc. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c." 

2.  Their  names  were,  Maior-Cienerals  (ireene,  Stirling,  St.  Clair,  Lafayette.  Howe 
and  Steuben.  l!riL,'adier-<ienera!s  rarsuns,  James  Clinton,  Knox,  Glover,  I'utersoii, 
Hand,  Huntington  and  Stark, 


!! 


HIS   TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TrvKASON. 


307 


''  I: 


tend  not  to  play  the  hero,  or  to  l»o  iiiditfcront  about  life,  yet  I  am  recon- 
ciled to  whatever  may  happen,  conscious  that  misfortune,  not  guilt,  has 
brought  it  upon  me.'  " 

On  tlie  ;50tli  of  September  General  Washington  sent  to 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  the  following  statement  in   regard   to 

Andre  : 

"  HEAn-Qi'ATiTKns,  30  September,  1780. 

"Sru:  —  In  answer  to  your  Excellency's  letter  of  the  'iHtli  instant, 
which  I  had  the  honor  to  receive,  1  have  to  inform  you  that  Major  Andre 
was  taken  under  sucli  circumstances  as  would  have  justified  tii"  most 
summai'y  proceeding  against  him.  I  determined,  liowever,  to  refer  his 
case  to  tlie  examination  and  decision  of  a  Ijoard  of  general  otlicers,  wlio 
have  reported,  on  his  free  and  voluntary  confession  and  letters:  '  First, 
That  he  came  on  shore  from  tlie  Vultiire  8looi)-of-\Var  in  the  night  of 
tlie  21st  of  September  instant,  on  an  interview  witli  (leneral  Arnolil,  in  a 
private  and  secret  manner. 

"  '  Secondly,  That  he  clianged  his  dress  within  our  lines  ;  and.  under  a 
feigned  name,  and  in  a  disguised  habit,  passed  our  works  at  Stony  ifc 
Verplank's  I'oints,  the  evening  of  the  "JJnd  of  September  instant,  and 
was  taken  the  morning  of  the  Jod  of  September  instant,  at  Tarry  Town, 
in  a  disguised  habit,  being  then  on  his  way  to  New  York;  and  when 
taken,  he  had  in  his  possession  several  papers  which  contained  intelli- 
gence for  the  enemy.' 

"' From  these  ya-oceedings  it  is  evident  that  Mnjor  Andre  was  em- 
ployed in  the  execution  of  measures  very  foreign  to  the  objects  of  flags 
of  truce,  and  such  as  they  were  never  meant  to  authorize  or  countenance 
in  the  most  distant  degree;  and  this  gentleman  confessed,  with  the 
greatest  candor,  in  the  course  of  his  examination,  '  that  it  was  impossi- 
Vile  for  him  to  suppose  that  he  c;imo  on  shore  under  the  sanctiun  of  a 
flag.'  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

"  ( !  i;our;K  "WASiirNdTON." 
— Sparks'"  Writiiifjs  of  IVashinfftov,  Vol.  VII.  p.  -Vis. 

Tlie  closing  part  of  the  report  of  tlie  Board  of  Officers 
was  not  qnoted  in  the  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  It  was 
in  the  following  words: 

"The  Board,  having  maturely  considered  these  facts,  do  also  report  to 
his  Excellency,  General  \Va~liington,  that  Major  Andre,  adjutant-general 
to  the  British  army,  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  spy  from  the  enemy,  and 
that  agreeably  to  the  law  and  usage  of  nations,  it  is  their  oi)inion  he 
ought  to  sutler  death." 


I 


308 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


The  execution  Wiis  to  have  taken  ])laee  on  the  first  of  Oc- 
tober, at  5  P.  M.,  but  Wa.sliin<^t(»n  received  a  second  letter 
from  Clinton,  expressing  the  opinion  that  the  Board  had 
not  been  'ri'ditlv  informed  of  all  the  circumstances  on 
which  a  judgment  ought  to  be  formed,'  and  adding:  'I 
think  it  of  the  highest  moment  to  humanity  that  your 
Excellency  should  bo  perfectly  ai)])rised  of  the  stale  of  this 
matter  before  you  ])roceed  to  put  that  judgment  in  execu- 
tion:' and  he  sent  Lieut. -General  liobertsou,  Lieut.-Gen- 
eral  Andrew  Elliot,  and  the  Hon.  "NVm.  Smith,  Chief  Jus- 
tice, 'to  give  AVashington  a  true  state  of  the  facts,'  as  he 
wrote,  and  "  to  declare  to  you  my  sentiments  and  resolu- 
tions." 

These  gentlemen  came  up,  accompanied  by  Col.  Beverly 
Robinson,  (leneral  Greene,  on  the  ])art  of  Washington,  met 
Gen.  Robertson  on  behalf  of  this  party,  and  a  long  confer- 
ence was  held.  Greene  left  to  report  to  Washington  all 
that  had  been  urged  in  behalf  of  Andi-e,  and  said  he  would 
inform  Robertson  of  the  residt.  A  letter  from  Arnold  was 
also  delivered  to  Greene  for  Washington,  ex]n'essing  his 
gratitude  and  thanks  for  kindness  to  ]V[rs.  Arnold  in  her  dis- 
tress, and  then  making  an  argument  attem]>ting  to  prove  that 
Andre  ought  not  to  be  considered  as  a  s])y  ;  and  he  closed 
by  making  a  most  earnest  appeal  to  Washington  for  the  life 
of  Andre.  "Sutler  me  to  entreat  your  excellency  for  your 
own  and  the  honor  of  humanity,  and  the  love  you  have  of 
jufetice,  that  you  suffer  not  an  unjust  sentence  to  touch  the 
life  of  ;^[ajor  Andre."  "But,"  he  unwisely  added,  "if 
this  warning  should  be  disregarded,  and  he  sutler,  I  call 
heaven  and  earth  to  Avitness,  that  your  excellency  will  be 
justly  answerable  for  the  torrent  of  blood  that  may  be 
spilt  in  consequence. ' 

Greene  sent  a  note  to  General  Robertson,  informing  him 

1.    Writings  of  Washiugtou,  Vol.  VII,  p.  541. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


309 


that  he  had  made  as  full  a  report  of  their  conference  as  his 
memory  would  enable  him  to  do,  but  that  it  made  no  alter- 
ation in  the  opinion  and  determination  of  Washington. 
Robertson  then  dis])atched  a  letter  to  AVaahington,  going 
over  the  subject  and  arguing  it  again,  and  then  the  party 
returned  to  New  York. 

Andre,  on  the  morning  of  October  the  first,  the  day  he 
expected  to  suffer,  sent  the  following  note  to  "Washington: 

"Tai'PAN,  1  October,  1780. 

"Sir:  —  Buoyed  al)Ove  the  terror  cf  death  by  tlie  consciousness  of  a 
life  devoted  to  honorable  pursuitw,  and  stained  with  no  action  that  can 
K've  me  remorse,  I  trust  that  the  request  I  make  to  your  Kxcellt  ncy  at 
this  serious  period,  ami  which  is  to  soften  my  last  moments,  will  not  be 
rejected. 

"Sympathy  towards  a  soldier  will  surely  induce  your  Excellency  and  a 
military  tribunal  to  adapt  the  mode  of  my  death  to  the  feelings  of  a  man 
of  honor. 

"  Let  me  hope.  Sir,  that  if  aught  in  my  charticter  impresses  you  with 
esteem  towards  me;  if  aught  in  my  misfortunes  marks  me  as  the  victim 
of  policy  and  not  of  resentment,  I  shall  experience  the  operation  of  those 
feelings  in  your  breast,  by  being  informed  that  I  am  not  to  die  on  a 
gibbet. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most 
humble  servant,'  John  Anduk." 

This  touching  request  Washington  felt  that  he  could  not 
grant,  and  therefore  did  not  reply  to  the  note.  The  follow- 
ing letter,  from  Ilainilton  to  Miss  Schuyler,  narrates  the 
end  of  this  most  melancholy  tragedy.* 

"Tai'I'an.  Oct.  2,  1780. 
"Poor  Andre  suft'ers  to-day.  Everything  that  is  amial)le  in  virtue,  in 
fortitude,  in  delicate  sentiment  and  accomplished  manners,  pleads  for 
him,  but  hard-hearted  policy  cidls  for  a  sacrifice.  Jle  must  die.  I  send 
you  my  account  of  Arnold's  affair :  and  to  justify  myself  to  your  senti- 
ments, I  must  inform  you  that  1  urged  a  compliance  with  Andre's  request 
to  be  shot;  and  I  do  not  think  it  would  have  had  an  ill-etiVet,  but  some 
people  are  only  sensible  to  motives  of  jjolicy,  and  sometimes,  from  a  nar- 
row disposition,  mistake  it. 

1.  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.VII,  p.  54a. 

2.  Hamilton's  Tapers,  Vol.  I,  p.  4U8. 


-,"' 


vj 


310 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


WW 


■ 

li 


"When  Andre's  tale  comes  to  be  told,  and  present  resentment  is  over, 
the  ret'iisinf?  him  the  privilege  of  choosiny  the  manner  of  his  death  will 
be  branded  with  too  much  obstinacy. 

"  It  was  proposed  to  me  to  siiffgest  to  him  the  idea  of  an  exchange  for 
Arnold,  but  I  knew  I  should  have  forfeited  his  esteem  by  doing  it,  aiid 
therefore  declined  it.  As  a  man  of  honor,  he  couirl  not  b\it  reject  it,  and 
I  would  not  for  the  world  hav(,'  i)ropose(l  to  him  a  thing  which  nmst  have 
placed  me  in  the  unamiable  light  of  supposing  him  capable  of  meanness, 
or  of  not  feeling  myself  the  impropriety  of  the  measure.  I  confess  to  you, 
I  had  the  weakness  to  Viilue  the  esteem  of  a  dying  man,  because  I  rever- 
enced his  merit.  A.  H.\MtLTOKi" 

There  are  indications  that  neitlier  Arnold  nor  Andre,  nor 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  at  first  fully  realized  the  danger  of 
Andre's  position.  All  of  them  seemed  to  have  assumed 
that  Arnold's  safe  conduct  would  protect  him.  Colonel 
Jtobinson,  AVashington's  old  Virginia  friend,  in  a  letter  t<» 
him,  after  stating  that  Andre  went  up  the  Hudson  at 
request  of  Arnold,  with  a  Hag  of  truce,  and  lield  that 
officer's  pass  to  return,  seems  to  have  taken  it  for  granted 
that  Andre  would  be  set  at  liberty,  for  he  closes  by  saying  : 
"  Under  these  circumstances,  Andre  caniu)t  be  detained  by 
you."  ^  Clinton  concludes  his  first  letter  to  Washington 
on  the  subject  by  sayiug  :  "  I  can  have  no  doubt  your 
Excellency  will  immediately  direct  that  this  oflicer  have  per- 
mission to  return."  " 

Andre's  conversation  with  Colonel  Tallmadge,  before  quo- 
ted, seems  to  have  been  the  first  occasion  on  which  there  was 
brought  to  his  knowledge  the  gravity  of  his  danger. 

AVhen  Arnold  was  made  to  appreciate  Andre's  extreme 
peril,  his  anxiety  and  deep  solicitude  are  manifested  in  his 
impassioned  letter  to  "Washington  above  quoted,  in  which 
he  implored  and  "entreated"  his  old  commander  not  to 
"  suffer  an  unjust  sentence  to  touch  the  life  of  Andre." 

1.  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  VII,  p.  533. 

2.  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  VII,  p.  634. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    II IS   TIIEASON. 


311 


It  was  proposed  to  Ilrtiniltnu  that  he  sliould   siiijgest  to 

Andre  his  exchange  lV>r  Arnt)l<l.     That  chivah'ic  young  otii- 

cer  at  once  declined.     He  savs: 

"  As  a  man  of  lioi'or  ho  (Androi  could  not  but  rcjoet  tlio  ]n-oposition. 
And  I  would  not  for  tlio  world  have  iiroposed  anything,'  which  must  Imvo 
placod  nie  in  the  unamiable  light  of  8Ui)posing  hiui  capab'e  of  mean- 


ness 


"  1 


An  intimation  was  sent  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  tliat  the 
only  way  to  eave  Andre  was  to  surrender  Arnold  to  die  in 
his  phice,  and  this  fact  was  brought  to  the  knowledge  of 
General  Arnold. 

It  has  been  stated,  on  autln)rity  which  I  will  give,  that 
Arnold  tliereupon  ])roposed  to  go  back  and  give  himself  up 
to  save  the  life  of  Andre.  The  facts  are  thus  stated  in  Sar- 
gent's life  of  Andre." 

In  1782  a  personal  controversy  in  regard  to  Arnold  arose 
in  London,  between  one  liobert  Morris  and  Caj^t.  James 
Hattersbv,  of  the  British  arm  v.  Morris  i)ul»li.shetl  in  a 
newspaper^  a  violent  attack  upon  Arnold,  charging  among 
other  things,  "  tliat  he  made  no  offer  of  his  own  person  to 
save  that  of  Andre." 

Captain  Eattersby,  who  (Sargent  says)  "  enjoyed  the 
friendship  of  military  men  of  the  highest  social  rank,  came 
forward  declaring  he  verily  believed  Arnold  did  offer  to 
surrender  himself,  and  M'ith  the  statement,*  for  the  truth 
of  Avhich  he  aj)i»ealed  to  the  gentlemen  who  were,  in  the  fall 
of  1780,  members  of  Clinton's  family."  "  He  declared  he 
was  with  the  English  army  when  Andre  was  captured  and 
Arnold  came  in,  and  that  it  was  currently  reported  and  be- 
lieved in  the  lines,  that  Arnold  himself  proposed  to  Sir 

1.  Life  of  Andre,  p.  304. 

2.  Life  of  Andre,  pp.  37r>,  456. 

;j.    Letter  of  Feb  y  9, 17S2,  ill  Uie  "General  AdvortLser,"  quoted  from  Sargent's 
Life  of  Aiulro.  )i.  -iriij. 
4.    In  the  Morniwj  Ikrald. 


i 


i 


312 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Henry  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  go  out  and  surrender 
liimself  in  exciiange  for  Andre,  and  tluit  the  repl}'  was, 
'  Your  ])rop()sal,  sir,  does  you  great  honor,  but  if  Audr6  was 
my  own  brother  I  couhl  not  agree  to  it."  ' 

No  denial  of  the  truth  of  this  statement  and  that  Arnold 
made  such  an  otler  a])])('ars,  altiiough  the  a])]ieal  was  ])ub- 
licly  made  to  the  gentlemen  of  Clinton's  staff  to  make  such 
denial  if  it  was  untrue.  AVhen  it  is  remembered  how 
Andre  was  beloved  by  Ids  comrades  in  the  family  of  Clinton 
antl  by  liii^  fellow  soldiers  of  the  army,  and  the  position  of 
Arnold  is  recalled,  it  api)ear8  to  me  that  if  the  statement  of 
Captain  llattersby  was  untrue,  it  would  have  been  promptly 
contradicted.  Sargent  adds  that  "the  anecdote  is  not 
devoid  of  su]»i)ort  from  Avhat  we  know  of  the  man's 
(Arnold's)  nature." 

No  one  M-ho  has  read  Sargent's  indignant  denunciation 
of  Arnold,  will  suspect  him  of  any  disposition  to  lighten 
the  shades  of  Arnold's  infamy,  and  yet  this  careful  writer 
says,  "  Such  an  overture  would  have  been  perfectly  in  keep- 
ing with  his  reckless  intrepidity  of  character.'"  The 
biographer  of  Andre  would  not  be  too  credulous  in  believ- 
imr  on  insufficient  evidence  such  a  statement. 

I  regret  that  I  have  no  additional  proof  of  its  truth.  I 
think  those  who  have  studied  Arnold's  character  most 
closely,  will  agree  with  Sargent,  that  such  an  act  "  would 
have  been  perfectly  in  keeping  with  the  intrepidity,"  and  I 
add,  the  impulsiveness  "of  his  nature."  Besides  what  was 
there  now  left  for  Arnold  to  live  for  after  his  disgrace  and 
the  failure  of  the  conspiracy  i  That  he  realized  his  unhappy 
fate,  I  do  not  doubt.  Such  a  sensational  death,  a  voluntary 
sacrifice  of  his  life  to  save  the  life  of  Andre,  exhibiting 
alike  his  courage  and  his  generosity,  would  not,  in  his  des- 
jiair,  have  been  altogether  re])ulsive.     It  would  unquestion- 

1.  I.ifc  of  Andre,  p.  375. 

2.  Life  of  Andre,  p.  375. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON'. 


313 


ably  have  Lcen  better  for  his  fame  if  Sir  irciiry  Clinton  had 
assented  to  his  ofl'cr. 

If  the  sii<x;,'esti(»n  ])rn)M)scd  to  Hamilton  had  been  made 
to  Andre,  there  eannut  be  a  doubt  he  wouM  have  looked 
npon  it  as  ]ramilt<tn  did  ;  he  would  have  rejected  it  with 
indignation.  ]Ie  would  have  said,  '*  We  took  our  cliances 
and  our  haziirds.  (ieneral  Arnold,  bv  ;;ood  fortune  and  bv 
Ins  wonderful  coolness  and  ]>rom])t  <lecision,  escaped.  I 
have  been  less  fortunate,  but  it  would  be  unmanly  in  rae 
not  to  abide  the  issue."  There  can  scarcely  be  a  doubt  that 
if  Andre,  when  halted  by  the  militia  men,  had  ])roniptly 
presented  his  ])ass,  he  would  not  have  been  detained. 
Pauldin<^,  the  leader  of  the  party,  said:  "  Had  he  ])ulled  out 
General  Arnold's  pass  first,  I  should  have  let  him  go."  ' 

Andre  was  an  elegant  and  accomplished  gentleman,  and 
died  ])ossessing  the  sympathy  of  his  judges,  and  the  friend- 
ship of  all  the  American  oihcers  with  whom  he  had  been 
brouirht  into  familiar  intercourse.  Both  Tallmadge  and 
Hamilton  expressed  for  him  an  attachment  almost  ])assion- 
ate.  He  died  in  the  full  uniform  of  his  rank  in  the  JJritisli 
army. 

A  letter  froni  Andre  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  dated  tlie 
29th  of  Sejiteinber,  e.\])ressing  gratitude  for  his  kindness, 
and  commending  to  his  consideration  his  mother  and 
sisters,  and  exonerating  his  (\»mniaii(ler  from  all  responsi- 
bility for  his  fate,  is  verv  touchin*'',  and  s1k)Ws  the  delicacy 
of  his  feelings."     The  following  is  the  letter: 

"Tappax,  2!)  Soptcmb.^r,  17.^0. 
"Sir:  —  Your  Excelloncy  is  doubtless  already  apprized  of  the  manner 
in  which  I  was  taken,  and  possibly  of  the  serious  liffht  in  which  my 
eondn(!t  is  considered,  and  the  rijjorous  determination  that  is  impeiidinjr. 
Untler  the  circumstances,  1  iiave  obtained  Gem-ral  Washiny-ton's  jier- 
mission  to  send  you  this  letter,  the  object  of  which  is  to  remove  from 

1.    Life  of  Andre,  p.  :ni. 

ii.    Sparks'  Writings  of  Washington,  Vol.  yil,  p.  537. 


i| 


311 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   AIINOLD. 


1' 


■■] 


your  broiist  any  susiiicion  tluit  I  could  iui:it,'iii(!  I  was  bouiul  by  your  Kx- 
ct'lleiicy'a  onlors  to  oxpom;  inyHoIl'  to  wliiit  has  liap|.('ii(.'il.  The  ovcutH  of 
coniinj^  witliin  an  ciicmy'a  jiowtH  and  of  cliaii^^injr  my  dn'ss,  wliich  led 
mo  to  luy  prt'.st'ut  Hituation,  wcii'  contrary  to  my  own  intentions,  as  they 
wor«  to  your  orders;  and  the  circuitous  route  which  I  took  to  return  was 
jmimsed  (perhaps  unavoidably)  without  alternative  upon  me. 

"  I  am  perfectly  tnitifpiil  in  mind,  and  prepared  for  any  fate  to  which 
an  honest  zeal  for  my  Kind's  service  may  have  ilevoted  me. 

"  In  ad<lressinK  myself  to  your  Excellency,  on  this  occasion,  the  force 
of  all  my  ()bli},MtionH  to  you,  and  of  the  a,  achment  and  j:ratitudo  I  bear 
you,  r(!cur.s  to  me.  With  all  the  w.irmlh  of  my  heart,  I  yive  you  thanks 
for  your  Excellency's  profuse  kindness  to  me;  and  I  send  you  the  most 
earnest  wishes  for  ycnir  welfare,  which  a  faithful,  att'ectionate,  and  re- 
spectful attendant  can  frame. 

"  I  ha,ve  a  mother  and  three  sisters,  to  whom  the  value  of  my  commis- 
sion would  be  an  ol>ject,  a.s  th"  loss  of  llrenada  has  mu(;h  atfected  their 
income.  It  is  needless  to  be  more  explicit  ou  this  subject.  I  am  per- 
suaded of  your  Excellency's  goodness. 

"  I  receive  the  preatest  attention  from  his  Exc  llency,  General  Wash- 
inprton,  and  from  every  peison  under  whoso  charj,'e  I  happen  to  be  placed. 

*'  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  most  respectful  attachment,  your 
Excellency's  most  obedient,  humble  dorvant,        Joir.v  An'duk, 

'*  Adjutant-General.'' 

The  circumstiiiices  iiiulor  which  this  letter  was  written, 
are  thus  detailed  by  llaiiiilton: 

"  In  one  of  the  visits  I  nr.nle  to  him,"  said  ITamilton  "(and  I  saw  him 
several  times  during  his  confinement),  he  befr^i'd  uie  to  be  the  bearer  of 
a  ropiest  to  the  (Icneral  for  pei mission  to  send  an  open  letter  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton.  'There  is  only  one  thing,'  said  he,  'that  disturbs  my 
traniiuiiity.  Sir  Ifenry  Cliutoii  has  been  too  f,''00(l  to  me;  he  has  been 
lavish  of  his  kuidness;  I  am  '■)0uiid  to  him  by  too  many  obligations,  and 
love  him  too  well,  to  bear  the  thouji'lit  that  he  should  reproach  himself  or 
others  should  repi'oach  him,  on  the  supposition  of  my  having  conceiveil 
myself  obliged,  by  his  instructions,  to  run  the  risk  I  did.  I  would  not, 
for  the  world,  leave  a  sting  in  his  mind  that  she  d  embitter  his  future 
days.'  He  could  scarce  finish  the  sentence,  bursting  into  t(>ars  in  spite  ol 
his  efforts  to  suppress  them,  and  with  difficulty  collected  himsi-lf  enoug'a 
afterward  to  add,  '  I  wish  to  be  j^ermitted  to  assure  him  I  did  not  act 
under  this  impression,  but  submitted  to  a  necessity  imposed  upon  me,  as 
contrary  to  my  own  inclination  as  to  his  orders.'  " 


1  c 


HIS    PATKIOTISM    AND   JUS    TKKASOX. 


oli) 


On  the  10th  of  Auj^ust,  IS'Jl,  tlie  reinaiiiflot' Atulre  wei*o 
reiiioved  tVt)jn  the  bunks  of  the  lludsctii  to  AVcstiiiinstt'i- 
Abliey,  and  interred  there,  near  the  niominient  which  had 
been  k)njr  before  erected  to  his  nieinnrv. 

In  the  Bouth  aisle,  near  the  window,  and  snrrounth'd  by 
the  f^reatest  iianiosj  in  Knglinli  history,  is  Andre's  monu- 
ment: ' 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Alajur  John  Ambv,  who, 
raised  by  his  merits  at  an  c  rly  |)eriod  of  life,  to  tin;  lanic 
of  A<ljutant-General  of  tlu  British  forces  in  America,  and, 
em])l()V('d  in  an  inij>ortant  but  hazardous  enterprise,  fell  a 
sacrifice  to  his  zeal  lor  his  Kin<r  and  Coiintrv,  on  the  'Jiid 
of  October,  1780,  a^ed  twenty-nine,  universally  beloved 
atid  esteemed  '  y  the  army  in  which  he  served,  and  lamented 
even  by  his  foes,  llis  gracious  soverei^^n,  Kin*;  George  III, 
has  caused  this  monument  to  be  erected." 

On  thejdinth  these  words  hnve  since  been  added  :  "■Thf 
remains  of  Major  John  Andre  were,  on  the  lOtli  of  August, 
1S21,  removed  from  Tappan  l)y  James  BuclianaTi,  Es<j.,  his 
Majesty's  Consul,  at  New  York,  under  instructions  from  his 
Royal  Highness,  the  Duke  of  York,  and  with  ])ermission 
of  the  Dean  and  Chapter,  tinally  dejMtsited  in  a  grave  con- 
tiguous to  this  monument,  on  the  ^Sth  of  November, 
1821." 

Although  few  can  regard  with  apj>r()val  the  enterprise 
in  which  Andre  lost  his  life,  none  will  regret  the  honors 
conferred  U})on  him  in  the  venerabU)  old  Al>bey  which  en- 
shrines so  many  of  England's  worthies. 

1.    Sargent's  Life  of  Andre,  p.  411. 


I 

i 


I 


I 


■i  \ 


\w 


i 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

MRS.  ARI^OLD'S  INNOCENCE— WAS  ANDRE  A  SPY? 

"?hc"  (Mrs.  Arnol'l)  "  s  ns  good  mid  as  innoct'iit  as  nn  angel,  and  is  Incapable 
of  doing  wrong.— .'Inio/'f  lo  U'anhiiKjIon, 

U'.vs  Mrs.  Arnold  Gvii.ty  of  roMi'i.iciTY  with   iiF.n  llisn.vxn'.s  TuE.\snN?— Was 

ASDKE  A  SrY,   AND   K.VIXITED  IN  ACCOltDANCE  WITH   TUK  I.AWS  OP  WAU? 

WiiKx  the  attt'iition  of  the  ivsuler  was  last  called  to  Mrs. 
Arnold,    she  "was    overwhelmed   with    <jrrietV'    and   made 
iVantic   by  fear  and  appreheiisidK   for  her  hushand's  life. 
She  was  somewhat  relieved  by  AVaslii niton's  assurance  of 
liis  escape  and  safety. 

General  Arnold  had  entreated  that  she  might  "be  per- 
mitted to  return  to  her  friends  in  I'hiladelphia,  or  come  to 
him  in  Xew  York,  as  she  might  choose."'  She  was  treated 
by  Washington  and  his  otHcers,  while  she  remained  at  the 
Kobinsou  House,  with  the  utmost  courtesy  and  attention, 
and  when  she  started  to  go  to  her  father  in  l*hiladelphia, 
]\[ajor  Franks,  late  the  aide  and  devoted  friend  of  her  hus- 
band, and  who  had  been  intimate  with  her  family,  was 
kindly  detailed  by  Washington  to  escort  her  on  her  journey. 

Aaron  Burr,  the  third  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  biography  of  Burr,  by  Malhew  L.  Davis,  is 
made  to  allege  that  Mrs.  Arnold  was  not  only  privy  to  her 
husband's  treachery,  but    that  she    "  induced  him    to  do 

(310) 


m^z 


^ 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


317 


what  he  liaJ  done."  In  other  words,  like  Eve,  she  had 
tempted  and  allured  him  to  his  fall. 

This  charge,  made  by  I>urr  to  Davis,  rests  upon  his  state- 
ment alone,  and  is  entirely  without  corroboration.  After 
describing  the  arrival  of  INIrs.  Arnold  at  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Provost,  on  her  journey  to    Pliiladelj)hia,  Mr.  Davis  says  : 

"As  soon  as  they  (Mrs.  Arnold  and  ^[rs.  Provost)  were 
left  alone,  Mrs.  Arnold  became  traixpiilized,  and  assured 
Mrs.  Provost  that  she  was  heartily  tired  of  the  theatricals 
she  was  exhibiting.  *  *  Stated  that  she  had  corres- 
ponded with  the  P>ritish  commander,  and  that  she  was  dis- 
gusted with  the  American  cause,  and  those  who  had  the 
managemeut  of  public  aftairs,  and  that  through  great  per- 
suasion and  unceasing  perseverance,  she  had  ultimately 
brouicht  the  (irencral  into  an  arrauirement  to  surrender 
West  Point."  Mrs.  Provost  afterwards  became  tlie  wife  of 
Col.  Burr,  and  repeated  to  him,  as  Davis  states,  these  con- 
fessions of  Mrs.  Arnold.  ^  Col.  Burr  and  Mrs.  Provost 
were  married  in  July,  1782. 

The  case,  then,  is  this:  Mr.  Davis  says  that  Coloiu>l  Burr 
told  him  that  Mrs.  Provost  said  that  ]\Irs.  Arnold  (k-ciared 
she  had  seduced  General  Arnold  from  fidelity  to  his  country 
and  his  Hag. 

Some  time  after  their  marriage — how  lonj;  we  are  not  told 
— Mrs.  Burr  repeated  the  conversation  to  her  h'^-^band,  and 
Burr,  some  time  within  the  half-century  following,  repeated 
the  conversation  to  Davis.  It  is  hearsay  evidence,  three 
times  removed,  and  rejieated  with  years  of  interval  between 
the  repetitions.  As  such,  it  is  worthless,  independent  of  the 
notorious  character  of  J^urr. 

Mrs.  Provost  may  have  misunderstood  Mrs.  Arnold;  when 
detailing  the  conversation  to  Colonel  Burr  she  may  have 
given  her  own  impressions,  instead  of  the  facts.     Burr  may 

1.    Life  of  Burr,  by  Mathew  L.  Davis,  Vol.  I,  pogc,  219. 


'Ij 


318 


LIFE   OF   BEXEDTCT    AEXOLD. 


have  done  the  same  when  rcpcatiiii<;  it  to  Davis.  Every 
one  at  all  familiar  with  judicial  iiivcf^tigations,  knows  by  ex- 
perience how  utterly  unreliable  this  sort  of  evidence  is. 
Parton,  in  re-stating  tlie  story,  does  not  claim  to  liave  any 
additional  evidence,  but  repeats  the  tale  of  Davis  with  em- 
bellishments. 

This  story  is  extremely  improbable.  Her  youth,  beinf^ 
then  onlv  twentv  vears  of  ai^e,  renders  such  coinplicitv 
very  unlikely.  Arnold  himself  entirely  exonerates  her. 
"  The  mistaken  venjj^eance  of  my  countrymen,"  says  he,  in 
his  letter  to  AVashingt(»n,  ''ouirht  to  fall  only  on  me.  She 
is  as  good  and  innocent  as  an  angel."'  This  testimony  must 
be  taken  cautiously,  for  whatever  it  is  worth.  l>ut  it  seems 
rather  the  passionate  and  impulsive  declaration  of  her 
innocence  than  an  artful  attenn)t  to  screen  her.  Besides, 
Hamilton  and  Washington  both  believed  her  innocent,  and 
their  ojiportunitics  for  judging  wei'e  better  than  those  of 
any  others,  except  ]\[ajor  Franks.  The  following  is  his  very 
important,  and,  under  the  circumstances,  conclusive  testi- 
mony on  the  subject : 

"Mnjor  Franks,  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  was  a  well-known 
acqtiiiintanco  of  my  paronts,""  sayis  Mrs,  Gibson.'  'lie  was  respected 
and  welcomed  wlien.'ver  he  went,  for  liis  social  tjood  liinnor  and  manly 
candor.  In  one  of  his  visits  to  Philadelphia,  where  his  near  relations 
resided,  he  was  often  at  my  father's,  and  one  day,  when  dininff  with 
other  genthniien  at  onr  home,  and  my  father  and  the  others  hail  retired  to 
the  parlor,  my  mother  detained  Major  Franks  to  converse  with  him  respect- 
ing Mrs.  Arnold,  whom  she  had  recently  heard  very  unjustly  spoken 
of.  He  entered  njion  the  suliject  with  alacrity.  Mamma  said  to 
him:  'Tell  me.  Major Fraid<s.  what  is  your  opinion  and  beHef  concern- 
ing: her  knowledj,'!!  of  lier  husband's  plans. '  He  quickly  replietl  : 
'Madam,  she  knew  nothinji:  of  tliem— nothinfif;  she  was  ij^norant 
of  them  as  a  babe.'  His  manner  was  sohMiin  and  earnest,  and  I  began 
to  think  it  might  be  proper  for  me  to  withdraw,  but  he  said,  *  don't  let 
Fetsy  go — I  have  nothing  to  say  that  she  may  not  hear.'    Of  course  I 

I.  Tlio  statomout  is  iniulc  liy  Mrs.  Jnmcs  Gibson,  dauglitor  of  Jno.  Boat  Bo  nil  j-, 
Wu.sliiiiytou's  corrcsimiidi'Dt,  iind  is  extrai;ti;d  from  the  Shippen  I'upers. 


HIS   TATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


319 


frladly  resumed  my  seat,  at  table,  and  he  wont  on: — 'Ma<liini,  lam  glad 
you  have  nitMitioiii'd  tlii.s  snlijcct.  I  have  nmch  to  say.  I  am  mucii  dis- 
tressed hy  it.  Witliin  a  It'w  days  I  liave  lieard  tor  the  tirst  time  tliinys  saiil 
of  herthat  are  contrary  to  truth — false!  utterly  false!  You  know  1  was  one 
of  (leneral  Arnold's  aides.  Ife  paid  me  the  compliment  to  assign  me  the 
particular  duty  of  protectinjj  Mrs.  Arnold;  of  attending  to  her  safety,  her 
general  welfare,  and  her  health.  I  was,  in  the  General'a  family,  laugh- 
ingly called  '  the  nurse! '  Her  health  was  tlien  delicate,  and  while  (ien. 
Arnold  was  in  comniiiiid  at  West  I'oint  he  freqiicntly  sent  her  to  ditfer- 
ent,  and  sometimes  distant  parts  of  the  country,  on  that  side  of  the  river. 
He  always  sent  a  guard  with  her,  besides  her  female  attendant,  and  gave 
me  very  particular  charge  over  her  welfare.  lie  spoke  of  licr  sulfering  in 
the  Ijustle  of  the  camp,  and  wished  her  to  be  relieved  from  it  during  the 
summi'r.  I  obeyed,  r.othing  doubting,  but  considering  him  a  pattern  for 
a  husband.  *  *  But,  madam,  slu;  knew  nothing  of  his  ])rojects.  In 
truth,  she  wa.s  subject  to  occasional  paroxysms  of  physical  indisposition, 
attended  by  nervous  debility,  during  which  she  would  give  utterance  to 
anything  and  everything  on  her  mind.  This  was  a  fact  well  known  amongst 
us  of  the  (ieneral's  iamily;  so  much  so  as  to  cause  us  to  be  scrupulous  ot 
what  we  told  her,  or  said  in  her  hearing.  Oeneral  Arnold  was  guarded 
and  impenetrable  towards  all  around  him,  and  1  should  believe  her  to  have 
iieen  ignorant  of  his  plans,  even  without  my  knowledge  of  this  peculiar 
feature  in  her  constitution;  but  irith  it,  such  a  strong  I'orroborative  proof, 
I  am  most  solemnly  and  firmly  convinced  that  General  Arnold  never  con- 
fid(Mt  his  detestaljle  scheme  to  her.  He  cnnJd  not  Iikic  veniuri'd  1o  do  it. 
He  was,  moreover,  too  well  aware  of  her  norm  patriotic  firliiigs.  You 
know,  Madam,  hoiv  complctelif  fthr  tras  Antviicmi  at  that  important 
jwviod.  Madam,  I  can  aver  sf)lenmly  she  teas  f  of  all;/  ignorant  of  his 
schemes.''  " 

The  followini^  lacts  are  vouched  for  as  known  in  tlie 
Shippen  family  at  tlie  time  of  the  lievolution;  they  liave 
l)ecn  often  privately  repeated,  hut  never  mentioned  he- 
yond  itf.  most  intimate  circle,  till  the  puhlication  <d'\v]iat 
they  style  the  liase  calumny  contained  in  the  memoii-.s  of 
Aaron  Burr: 

"Mrs.  Arnold  having  determined  to  go  to  her  father,  in  Philadelphia, 
set  out  with  her  yoimg  child  and  nurse  in  her  carriage,  to  travel  then.'  by 
easy  stages.  On  her  way  she  stopped  to  spend  the  night  at  !Mrs.  Pro- 
vost's, an  old  acquaintance,  and  afterwards  the  wife  of  ('ol.  Hurr,  and  at 
that  time  on  terms  of  tender  friendship,  if  not  indeed  engaged   to   him. 


I 


^ 


320 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


"Those  facts  are  told  by  Burr's bioj^raplier,  who  no  doubt,  follows  BurrV 
narrative  accurately,  but  he  omits  the  fact  that  Burr  liini^elf  met 
Mrs.  Arnold  at  Mrs.  Provosts,  and  when  she  left  the  house  in  the  morn- 
ing, ottered  his  escort,  which  he  prt't"nded  miyht  be  useful  to  her  in  the 
then  excited  state  of  the  public  mind  on  the  subject  of  her  husband's  trea- 
son. Still  less  does  he  disclose  what  his  friends  would  not  have  ventured 
to  repeat,  that  on  the  way  he  basely  made  love  to  this  atHictod  hxdy, 
thinking  to  take  advantiifje  of  her  just  feelinj;s  of  indignation  towards 
her  husband  and  her  helpless  condition,  to  help  him  in  his  infamous  de- 
sign. Yet  this  is  the  fact  if  the  family  tradition  is  true.  And  being 
indignantly  repelled,  he  treasured  up  his  revenge,  and  left  a  story 
behind  him  worthy  of  his  false  and  malignant  heart,  to  blast  this  amiabb 
lady's  fame,  when  there  might  be  no  one  to  disprove  or  deny  it. '  " 

Besides,  tlie  conduct  of  ]\rrs.  Arnold,  on  the  discovery  of 
her  husband's  treason,  is  utterly  inconsistent  with  <f\uh. 
That  a  young  woman  of  lier  years,  still  almost  a  child,  should 
have  heen  capable  of  imposing  U]K)n  AVashington  and  his 
aids,  is  incredible.  If  guilty,  when  Ai'iiold  announced  to 
her  his  flight,  all  ])a]>ers  indicating  guilt  would  have  been 
destroyed;  and  when  Washington  gave  her  ])erniission  to 
join  her  husband  in  Xcw  York,  or  go  to  her  father  in 
Philadelphia,  if  conscious  of  guilt,  Mhat  would  she  have 
done?  (luilt  is  ever  fearful;  it  flies  when  none  pursue. 
If  guilty,  her  punishment  would  have  been  death.  In  tlie 
intense  excitement  tlien  existing,  neither  her  youth  ajid 
beauty,  nor  all  her  domestic  virtues,  could  have  saved  her 
from  the  fury  of  her  enraged  country.  If  conscious  of 
guilt,  she  would  have  seized  the  opportunity  to  luive  iound 
safety  l)y  the  side  of  her  husbaiul,  whom  "  she  dearly 
loved,"  within  the  Ih'itish  line-;,  in  Xew  York.  Instead  of 
this,  she  fearlessly  g(K>s  to  Philadelphia,  where  Congress 
w'as  in  session,  aiul  where  an  outraged  people  were  clamor- 
ing for  a  victim!  ^Nothing  but  a  consciousness  of  innocence 
could  have  induced  her  to  remain  within  the  power  of  the 
American  government,  when  Washington  oftered  her  an 

1.    Shippen  Tapers. 


If  9-.       i 


HIS   PATKIOTISM    AND    HIS   TxlEASOX. 


321 


escort  to  lier  Imsbaiitl  and  a  place  of  safety.  It  is  incredible, 
if  she  were  guilty,  that  she  would  have  voluntarily  con- 
fronted Congress  at  a  moment  of  such  exasperation,  and 
M-hen  the  people  were  eager  for  a  victim.  No  one  who  reads 
her  letters  contained  in  this  volume,  will  believe  her  capable 
of  acting  the  double  })art  with  which  she  has  been  charged. 
On  the  contrary,  if  Arnold  had  disclosed  his  jdans  to  her, 
she  would  have  been  much  more  likely,  prompted  alike  by 
hor  love  and  her  clear  perception  of  right,  to  have  tried  to 
gave  him  from  the  commission  of  a  fearful  crime  and  u 
terrible  blunder, 

AVhatever  might  have  been  Mrs.  Arnold's  fiiud  decision, 
as  to  whether  she  should  remain  with  her  father  and  friends 
in  Philadelphia,  or  join  her  husband  in  Kew  York,  the 
choice  was  not  left  her  by  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania. 
On  the  29th  of  October  the  Council  of  that  State  ado])ted 
a  resolution  compelling  her  to  leave  the  State,  and  i'nibid- 
ding  her  return  during  the  war.' 

Mrs.  Arnold  followed  her  husband  to  New  York,  and 
shared  his  fate  in  evil,  as  in  good  re])ort.  Ilcr  letters  U> 
her  father's  lamily,  full  of  respect  and  tenderness,  bear 
abundant  testimony  that  whatever  may  have  been  her  hus- 
band's faults,  he  was  ever  a  most  devoted,  faithful  and  atl'ec- 
tionate  husband.  In  a  letter  to  her  father,  dated  July  13lh. 
17S5,  she  says  :  "General  Arnold's  affection  for  me  is  un- 
1)0unded;  "  and  in  another,  she  says,  "  he  is  the  best  of  hus- 

1.    The  foUowing  Is  a  copy,  from  the  minutes  in  Counpil  : 

rmi.ADEU'HiA,  Friday,  Oct.  27,  ITsn. 

"  The  Counsel,  luking  into  consideration  the  case  of  Mrs.  Marjiarot  Ariiolil  dlie 
wife  of  Benedict  Ar'old,  an  attainted  traitor,  witli  tiic  enemy  at  New  Yuri;),  whosi^ 
resilience  in  this  cit>  iias  become  dangerous  to  the  public  safety;  and  this  bnard 
beiiiK  <lesiroxis,  as  'nnch  as  possible, to  prevent  any  eorrespoiidenee  and  intercoui.'-j 
beiuK  carried  on  n'ith  persons  of  disall'eeted  eliaraeter  in  this  State  and  the  enemy 
at  New  Vorlf,  anl  especially  with  the  said  lienediet  Arnold,  theref(jre,  Iirsii!fiil. 
Tliat  the  said  Margaret  Arnold  depart  this  State  within  fourteen  days  from  the  dute 
hereof,  and  that  bhe  do  not  return  ogaiu  durinsj  the  contiuuanee.of  the  present 
war." 

21 


I; 


322 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


hands;  "  and  ull  lior  letters  indicate  tluit  tlicre  never  existed 
a  tiiniily  more  kind  and  affeetiuiiute,  tender  and  unselfish 
towards  each  other. 

The  sad  traged}^  of  Andre,  the  romance  of  his  life,  and 
early  death,  the  treason  of  Arnold,  closin;:;  in  disgrace  a 
brilliant  military  career,  and  Mrs.  Arnold's  ^rcat  beauty 
and  fascination,  have  all  contributed  to  uiake  the  cents  I 
have  l)een  describin*:;  amiMiiij  the  most  interestini;;  hi  Anieri- 
can  history. 

Washinifton's  action  in  orderirii;  the  execution  of  Andre, 
was,  in  the  excited  feelings  of  that  day,  severely  criticised 
and  unqualifiedly  denounced  by  the  English,  but  his  con- 
duct has  since  been  sanctioned  by  the  deliberate  judgment 
of  the  candid  and  enlightened  M'orld.  An  excejttion  to  this 
judgment  is  found  in  L(n\l  ^lahon's  history  of  England,  ' 
in  which  he  says  : 

"Unless  I  greatly  docoive  myself,  the  intelliiront  classes  of  his  (Wash- 
ton's)  countrymen,  will  ere  long  join  others  in  eondiMuning  the  death- 
warrant  of  Andre,  certainly  by  far  the  greatest,  perhaps  the  only,  blot  in 
his  noble  career." 

This  declaration  by  an  English  historian  so  distinguished, 
re-opened  the  question  of  Andre's  execution,  and  of  Wasli- 
inirton's  conduct,  and  brought  again  before  the  world  the 
(question,  "Was  Andre  a  spy,  rnd  was  his  death  in  accord- 
ance with  the  laws  of  war,  as  Y>i'<i'Cticed  and  settled  by  the 
civilized  nations  of  the  eartliT 

There  has  never  been  any  serious  dispute  about  the  facts 
of  the  case. 

Andre,  at  the  instance  of  Arnold,  came  ashore  and  went 
within  the  American  lines,  to  further  a  treacherous  con- 
spiracy between  the  commander  at  AVest  Point  and  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  for  the  surrender  of  that  post  to  the  Ih-itish 
army.     He  came   at   midnight,  under   an   assumed  name, 

1.    Vol.  Vn.    London,  1831. 


brr±ijfamss» 


HIS    PATRIOTISM   AND   irS    TREASOX. 


met  Arnold  in  secret,  and  findini^  the  «»l)ject3  of  tlio  inter- 
view could  not  be  concluded  without  Ioniser  time,  went  to 
the  house  of  Smith,  an<l  there  concluded  the  corrupt  agree- 
ment, received  from  Arnold  the  ])ai)er8  which  it  was  sup- 
posed would  enable  Clinton  to  take  the  post,  and  concealed 
these  papers  in  liis  boots.  AV'hile  Andre  was  concealed  at 
Smith's,  an  American  officer,  brini^'inn;  his  i;uns  to  bear 
upon  the  Vulture,  which  had  brought  Andre  ashore,  com- 
pelled her  to  move  down  the  river,  and  reiuleivd  it  difficult 
and  dangerous  for  him  to  go  back  to  iier,  and  com|)elled 
him  to  return  to  New  York  with  his  concealed  ])a]»ers  by 
hind.  Disguised  in  clothes  loaned  him  by  Smith,  with 
Stnith  as  a  guide,  and  with  Arnohrs  ]ias.s  or  safe  conduct, 
under  an  assumed  name,  in  liis  ])ocket,  he  crossed  the  rivei- 
and  proceeded  towards  ^I'ew  York,  the  pass  of  Arnold  prov- 
ing his  sutlicient  ])rotection  until  he  arrived  at  a  place 
called  Crom])on(l,  where  he  and  liis  guide  stayed  all  night. 
At  daylight  Aiulre  again  started,  accompanied  liy  Smith- 
aiul  thev  imssed  on  bevond  the  American  lines  into  what 
was  called  the  "Neutral  Ground,"  between  the  two  armies. 
Smith  them  left  him,  and  it  was  supposed  all  danger  was 
passed,  when,  as  has  been  beft)re  described,  .Vndrt'  was 
arrested,  searched,  the  secret  and  treasonable  i)apers  found 
upon  him,  and  Paulding,  one  of  liis  captors,  exchtimed: 
"  My  God,  he  is  a  spy  I'' 

"Was  this  true? 

Washington  convened  a  court,  consisting  of  all  the  gen- 
eral  officers  in  the  neighborhood,  to  investigate  the  case, 
re])ort  the  facts,  and  in  what  light  Andre  should  l>e  con- 
sideretl,  and  the  ]Uinishment  that  ought  toI)e  intlicted.  The 
board  reported  the  facts,  their  conclusion,  that  "he  ought  to 
be  considered  a  spy  from  the  enenn-,  and  that  agreeabl^^  to 
the  law  and  usage  of  nations,  it  is  their  opinion  he  ought 
to  suffer  death." 


! 


324 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


"Wasliinniton  considcM'cd  tlic  question  carefully,  heard 
uverythiiii^  which  Arnold,  Clinton,  liobinson,  and  indeed 
every  one  else,  could  offer  in  his  behalf,  but  his  judii;inent 
concurriiif^  in  the  report  of  the  court,  he  reluctantly  but 
firmly  ordered  his  execution.    Was  this  decision  lei^al? 

AVhat  is  a  spy?  Yattel's  definition  is:  ''Spies  are  those 
who  introduce  themselves  amoni^the  enemy  to  discover  the 
condition  of  his  affairs,  penetrate  his  designs,  and  com- 
municate them  to  his  employers." 

Professor  Martin's  summary  of  the  Law  of  Nations,  a 
work  commended  by  Chancellor  Kent,  gives  this  definition: 
"  Those  who,  under  a  false  name  and  disguised  character, 
enter  the  camp  of  the  enemy  to  serve  as  spies,  and  to  empoison, 
assassinate  or  corrupt,  nve  punished  with  death;"  and  in 
the  foot-note  is  added,  "  See  the  instance  of  Major  Andre."  ' 

This  principle  has  been  adopted  l)y  the  ]'ritish  Parlia- 
ment in  legislation.  That  body  in  1749  enacted  "that  all 
spies,  and  persons  whatsoever  who  shall  come,  or  be  found 
in  the  nature  of  spies,  to  bring  any  seducing  letter,  or 
message  from  any  enemy  or  rebel,  or  endeavor  to  comqjt 
any  captain,  officer  or  mariner  *  '^  to  betray  his  trust,  on 
being  (•■  iivicted  by  a  court-martial,  shall  suffer  death,  &c."'^ 
"Those  seeking  to  surprise  a  town,  and  if  they  were  in  dis- 
guise, or   had   employed   treachery,  would    be  treated  as 


M  S 


spies 

But  Lord  IMahon  attempts  to  shield  Andre  from  respon- 
sibility, and  argues  that  he  ought  not  to  have  suffered  the 
penalty  of  a  detected  spy  because  he  bore  the  pass  of  Gen- 
eral Arnold. 

Should  the  pass  of  Arnold,  a  co-conspirator,  protect  Andre  ? 

AVhat  was  the  extent  of  tlie  power  of  the  commander  of 

1.  The  cnse  of  Mnjnr  Andre,  by  Charles  J.  Biddle. 

2.  The  cuso  of  Miijor  Andre,  by  Charles  J  Biddle. 

3.  Viittel.    Note  to  page  37a-quoting  Grotlus'  History  of  the  disturbance  in  the 
Netherlands. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    IIIS   TREASON. 


325 


AVest  Pt)iiit?  lie  could  bind  the  authorities  of  the  United 
States  only  when  acting  in  good  faith,  and  within  the  scope 
of  the  authority  conferred  upon  liini.  When  he  went  out- 
side of  that,  his  acts  were  a  legal  nullity,  especially  when 
acting  in  collusion  with  one  wl'.o  knew  that  he  was  viola- 
ting his  trust,  and  who  had  fraudulently  conspired  with 
him  to  betray  his  princii)al. 

The  idea  that  a  conspirator's  pass  will  protect  a  co-con- 
spirator, is  a  position  which  is  scarcely  debatable.  An 
otHcer,  when  acting  clearly  beyond  the  scope  of  his  author- 
ity, does  not  bind  his  principal  any  more  than  an  ordinary 
agent.  When  an  officer  acts  in  collusion  with  the  enemy, 
to  betray  his  tru^,  the  act  has  no  color  of  validity,  legal  or 
moral,  as  against  the  principal  who  is  to  be  injured, 

"'  The  treacherous  betrayal  of  liis  trust  was  beyond  the 
scope  of  Arnold's  authority;  it  was  known  to  be  so  by  An- 
dre, and  a  pass  or  agreement  in  furtherance  of  the  conspir- 
acy, wov.ld  be  absolutely  void." 

The  pass  was  given  to  Andre,  to  enable  him  to  cnrry  to 
liis  commander.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  papers  and  intelligence 
which  it  was  supposed  would  enable  that  officer  to  capture 
AV^est  Point.  That  such  a  paj)er  should  be  set  up  as  a  ]iro- 
tection,  is  as  absurd  as  it  would  have  been  for  Clinton  to  have 
called  upon  General  Washington  to  surrender  West  Point, 
because  Arnold,  while  in  command,  had  agreed  to  surren- 
der it! 

Again,  the  pass  was  a  sham  on  the  face  of  it.  It  was 
given  to  Jo/ai  Anderson,  not  to  Major  Andre.  It  is  per- 
fectly Mxll  settled  that  a  ]iass  is  not  transferable,  and  a  pass 
to  a  man  under  a  false  or  fictitious  name,  is  void.  "■  The  per- 
son named  in  the  safe  conduct  cannot  transfer  his  privilege 
to  another."  ' 

Washington  expresses  with  accuracy  the   condition  of 

1.    Vattel,  p.  410. 


1.1 


i 


ill 


i 


i 


326 


LIFE  OF   BEXEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Andre,  with  reference  to  the  thi<^  of  truce,  in  liis  letter  to 
, Clinton.  "  It  is  evident  tliut  Andre  was  employed  in  the  ex- 
ecntion  of  measures  verj'  lorei^ni  to  the  ohjects  of  a  Hag  of 
truce,  and  such  as  they  were  never  meant  to  uuthorixo  or 
countenance  in  the  most  remote  de<^ree;  and  this  <:jentlenian 
confessed,  with  the  "greatest  candor,  in  the  course  of  his  ex- 
amination, "that  it  was  impossihlo  for  him  to  suppose  he 
came  under  the  sanction  of  a  Hag."  Perha]»s  it  may  seem 
harsh  in  this  connection  to  sav,  a  detected  impostor  has 
never  Ijeen  and  should  never  he  permitted  to  claim  the  im- 
munities of  the  sacred  emblem  he  has  abused.  To  use  a 
fla*;  of  truce  under  which  to  concert  treachery  and  treason, 
is  certainly  as  great  an  abuse  of  that  emblem  of  taitli  as 
can  be  conceived.  The  sacred  character  of  such  flag — sacred 
and  resjiected  among  all  nations — makes  its  ])rostitution 
and  abuse  the  more  criminal.  lie  who  so  abuses  it  can 
hardly  expect,  nor  did  Andre  claim,  when  detected,  its  im- 
munity against  ])unishment. 

The  opinion  of  llomilly,  afterwards  the  great  English 
jurist  and  law-reformer,  shows  the  fallacy  of  those  who 
sought  to  save  Andre  from  responsibility  as  a  spy.  He 
says: 

"  Wluit  do  you  think  of  Arnoltl's  condncl?  You  m  ly  well  fsnppoo  ho 
does  not  want  advocates  here.  I  cannot  join  with  theui.  Tiie  ar;^unients 
nscd  by  CHnton  and  Arnold,  in  their  letters  to  Wn^hinf^ton,  to  prove  that 
Andre  could  not  he  considered  a  spy,  are:  First,  that  he  had  with  him, 
when  ho  was  taken,  a  protection  of  Arnold's,  who  was  at  tliat  time  act- 
ing? under  a  commission  of  the  Conyre!^;^,  and  therefore  competent  to 
ffive  prc)tect!on.  Certainly,  he  was,  to  all  strangles  to  his  ne','otiations 
with  Clinton,  but  not  to  Andre,  who  knew  him  to  be  at  that  time  a 
traitor  to  the  Congress;  nay  more,  whose  i)rotection  was  granted  for  no 
other  purpose  but  to  promote  and  give  effect  to  his  treachery.  In  the 
second  place,  they  «ay  th:it  at  the  time  he  was  taken  he  was  ujion  neutral 
ground;  but  then  lUey  do  not  deny  that  he  had  been  within  the  Amevi- 
can  lines  in  disguise.  .  .  .  Panegyrics  on  the  gallant  Andre  are  un- 
bounded; they  tall  him  the  English  Mutius,  and  talk  of  erecting  monu- 
ments to  his  memory.     Certainly  no  man  in  his  situation  could  have 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


327 


acted  with  more  dotonnincd  courage,  but  his  situation  was  by  no  means 
such  as  to  admit  of  these  exagjfomted  praises."  ' 

r>ut,  concedhiiij  Andro's  guilt,  suid  tliiit  l»y  tlio  laws  of 
M'iir,  he  was  lial)lo  to  sillier  death,  miy:ht  not  Washiiiirtoii 
have  spared  his  life  without  i»rejiidice  to  the  eause  of  his 
country? 

In  answering  this  queption,  we  must  remember  that  the 
United  States  were  then  struggling  lor  existence  and  recog- 
nition as  an  indei)endent  nation,  and  that  the  result  was  yet 
in  doiiht.  To  take  human  life  for  a  violation  of  law  is  an  act 
of  the  highest  sovereignty.  Here  was  aconspicuoiis  case:  the 
Adjutant-General  of  the  Jh'itish  ai'inv.  caught  and  con- 
deinned  as  a  spy,  with  unmistakeal)le  evidence  of  his  guilt 
upon  his  person.  The  drama  was  being  enacted  in  the  face 
of  the  British,  American  and  French  armies,  and  with  all 
the  world  as  observers.  Had  there  been  hesitation  or  va- 
cillation, or  failure  on  the  part  of  WashingtcMi  to  exercise 
in  this  clear  case  the  high  act  oi  sovereignty,  it  would  have 
been  attributed  to  a  want  of  confidence  in  the  success  of  his 
cause;  and  it  would  have  been  ascribed  to  weakness,  perhajts 
to  cowardice. 

Lookers  on  might  have  said:  ""Washington  fears  the 
result  of  the  war;  he  himself  may  be  tried  as  a  rebel,  and 
he  dare  n<»t  execute  Andre  because  he  fears  that,  in  the 
event  of  failure,  it  might  add  to  his  own  personal  danger! 
It  was  therefore  necessary  that  Andre  should  die.  It 
svas  felt  by  AV^ashington  to  be  necessary  to  show  the  world 
that  "no  greater  imjmnity  would  attend  the  acts  of  him 
who,  as  a  spy,  sought  the  destruction  of  this  young  repub- 
lic, than  would  have  attended  the  act  if  ct)mmitted  against 

1.  Contributions  to  Am.  Uist.,  I'a.  Hist.  Society,  185i<,  p.  £80,  quoted  frmii  Life  of 
Sir  Samuel  Romilly,  Vol.  I,  lu4. 

For  a  full,  able,  nntl  exhaustive  discussion  of  this  question,. sec  "  The  Case  of  Ma- 
jor Audre,"  by  Charles  J.  Ijiddle,  iu  I'ublications  of  I'a.  Hist.  Society,  ISoS. 


;328 


LIFE  OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


the  oldest  and  strongest  government  in  the  world."  '  This 
iict  of  nntiunul  sovereignty  wns  executed  with  a  dignity,  a 
liUMianity,  yet  with  an  inflexible  firmness,  that  showed  how 
strong  was  the  hand  of  Washington  at  the  helm. 

1.  The  Ilrillsh  lind  then  lately  hutiK  ns  a  spy  a  yoiiriK  American,  Cnptnln  Nathan 
Hale,  an  ofllcer  as  aceomiiUtilied  niul  eiiKiiKinK  as  Andre.  ShonUl  the  Itoyid  army 
f'Xerclse  exclusively  the  riuht  of  execiuinK  spies?  Would  it  not  bo  just  and  expo- 
illciU  for  Washington  to  IbUow  the  exaiuple  of  the  enemy  ? 


Ins 
,  a 
aw 


Ian 

my 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


ARNOLD  VAINLY  ATTEMPTS  TO  JUSTIFY  HIS  TREASON. 

"  I  fought  for  much  less  than  Great  Britain  is  willing  to  gront."— ilrnoW  the 
Traitor.^ 

Arnold  In  New  Your  Citv— Ilrs  Adduess  to  the  AMEnicAK  People— TIis  Phocla- 

MATION  TO  THE  OFFK  EllH  AND  SOLIJIEIIS  OF  THE  AMEKICAN  AllMY— ATTEJiri  TO  KID- 
NAP Him— Ills  WiFB  Joins  Him  in  New  Yoiik. 

Notwithstanding  the  discovery  and  consequent  utter 
ikil are  of  the  conspiracy  between  General  Arnuhl  and  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  by  the  arrest  of  Andre,  Arnold,  always  san- 
i;uine  in  every  enterprise  lie  undertook,  still  entertained 
hopes  of  the  final  success  of  the  lioyal  cause,  and  felt  confi- 
dent that  he  could  contribute  lar<;tly  to  that  success. 

lie  lost  no  time  in  preparinj^  and  issuing  an  address  "  To 
the  Inhabitants  of  Amer'sa,"  in  which  he  undertook  to  ex- 
plain and  justify  his  conduct.  This  address,  the  oric^inal  of 
which,  in  the  handwriting  of  General  Arnold,  furnished  by 
his  grandson,'  is  now  before  me,  and  I  insert  it  here  In  full, 
on  the  principle  that  all  persons,  not  excepting  the  worst 
criminals,  are  entitled  to  be  heard  in  their  own  defense  be- 
fore sentence  is  passed  upon  them: 

1.  "The  American  polonies  shnll  have  thoir  Piirlifimont.  comp'sedoftwo  clinm- 
hers,  all  its  members  of  American  hirth.    Tlioso  of  the  I'pper  House,  witli  titles, 
similar  to  the  House  of  Peers.    All  tlicir  laws,  and  partieiilnrly  such  as  relate  to 
money  matters,  shall  be  the  production  of  this  Assembly,  wiih  the  concurrence  of 
a  Viceroy," — The  Letter  to  Arnold  attrihuti'd  to  Kabhison. 

2.  Rev.  Edward  Gladwin  Arnold.    I  fliul  no  printed  copy  of  this  paper  ctirely 
accurato, 

(320) 


I 


E. 


■S. ; 


330 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


"To  aiiE  Iniiahitants  of  Ameuica. 

"  I  should  forfeit  even  in  my  own  Opinion,  the  i)liice  I  have  so  long- 
liehl  in  yours,  if  1  could  he  indiJferent  io  your  Aitprohation,  anU  silent  on 
the  Motives  which  have  induced  nio  to  join  the  Kinjj 's  Arms. 

"A  very  few  words,  liowever,  slu''  suffice  upon  a  Sul)ject  so  personal, 
for  to  the  thousands  who  suifer  um'  cIk;  tyranny  of  the  Usurpei's  in  the 
revolted  Provinces,  aa  well  as  to  tha  yreat  multitude  who  have  lonti:  wished 
for  its  Hubversion,  this  instance  of  my  Conduct  can  want  no  Vindication, 
as  to  that  class  of  Jlen  who  are  Criminally  protracting:  the  War  from 
Sinister  \  lews,  at  the  expense  of  the  rublic  Interest,  I  prefer  their 
PJnmity  to  their  applause.  I  am  only,  therefore,  Concerned  in  this  ad- 
dress to  explain  myself  to  such  of  my  Co.mtrymnn  as  want  Abilities  or 
Opportunities  to  detect  the  Arlitices  by  which  they  are  duped. 

"  Having?  foui^ht  by  your  side  when  the  love  of  our  Country  animated 
our  Arms,  I  shall  expect  from  your  Justice  and  Candor,  what  your 
deceivers,  with  more  Art  and  less  lionesty,  will  find  it  inconsistent  with 
their  own  Views  to  admit. 

"  'When  1  (luitled  Domestick  happiness  for  the  Perils  of  the  Field.  T 
conceived  the  riyhts  of  my  Country  in  l)an,<,''i'r,  and  that  Duty  and  Honor 
called  me  to  her  Defence — a  Redress  of  Grievances  was  my  only  Oliject 
and  aim;  however,  I  acquiesced  in  a  step  which  I  thou<,dit  precipitate 
the  Declaration  of  indeiiendence;  to  Justify  the  measure  many  plausible 
reasons  were  urj^'cd,  which  could  no  iontjer  exist,  when  Creat  Britain 
with  the  open  arms  of  a  Parent  offered  to  embrace  us  as  Children,  antl 
jrrant  the  wished  for  redress. 

"  And  now  that  her  worst  Enemies  are  in  her  own  bosom,  I  should 
chanfje  my  Principles,  If  I  conspired  with  their  Desifi:ns.  Yourselves  be- 
in<j  Judges,  was  the  war  the  less  Just,  ljecaus(-'  Fi'llow  Subjects  were  con- 
sidered us  our  Foesy  You  have  fe'.t  the  torture  in  which  we  raised  our 
arms  asrainst  a  Brother — God  Incline  tlie  Guilty  protractors  of  these  un- 
natural Dissentions,  to  resi{,'n  their  Ambition,  and  Cease  from  their  De- 
lusions, in  Compassion  to  kindred  blood. 

"I  anticipate  your  queslion:  was  not  the  War  a  defensive  one  until 
the  French  Joined  in  the  Combination?  1  answer,  that  I  thought  so. 
You  Avill  a<ld,  was  it  not  afterwards  necessary  till  the  Si'paration  of  the 
British  Empire  was  compleatV  By  no  means;  in  Contending  for  the 
Welfare  of  my  Country,  I  am  free  to  declare  my  Opinion,  that  this  End 
attained,  all  strife  should  have  ceased. 

"  1  lamented  therefore  the  Impolicy,  tyranny,  and  Injustice,  which 
\vi'':  a  Sovereign  Contempt  of  the  People  of  America,  studiously  nt  jj- 
iected  to  take  their  Collective  Sentiments  of  the  British  proposals  of 
Peace,  and  to  negotiate  under  a  suspension  of  Arms,  for  an  adjustment 


HIS   PATEIOTISM   AND    HIS   TEEASON. 


ooi 


of  difieronccs,  as  a  (ian_<,'crous  Sacrifice  of  the  groat  Tntcrost  of  this 
Country  to  the  Partial  Views  of  a  Proud,  Antient,  aiiJ  Crafty  Foe.  I 
had  uiy  suspicions  of  some  imperfections  in  Our  Councils,  on  Proposals 
lirior  to  the  Parliamentary  Commission  of  1778;  but  haviiij,'  then  less  to 
do  in  the  Cabinet  than  the  Field  (I  will  not  pnnounce  perempioriiy  as 
some  may,  and  perhaps  Justly,  that  Congress  have  veiled  them  fvom  the 
Publick  Eye),  I  continued  to  be  guided  in  the  negligent  Confidence  of  a 
soldier.  But  the  whole  world  saw,  and  all  America  confessed,  the  (Over- 
tures of  the  Second  Commission  exceeded  our  v/ishes  and  exp.}ctations. 
If  there  was  any  Suspicion  of  the  National  liberality,  it  arose  from  its 
excess. 

"  Do  any  believe  we  were  a*^  that  time  really  entangled  by  an  Alliance 
with  France?  Unfortunate  deception!  and  thus  they  have  been  duped 
by  a  virtuous  Credulity,  in  the  incautious  moments  of  intempcrute  i)as- 
sion,  to  give  up  their  fidelity  to  serve  a  Nation  counting  both  the  will  and 
the  power  to  protect  us,  and  aiming  at  the  Destruction  both  of  the  .Mother 
Country  and  the  Provinces.  In  the  Plainess  of  Conmion  Sense,  for  I  pre- 
tend to  no  Casuistry,  did  the  pretended  Treaty  wilh  the  Court  of  Ver- 
sailles amount  to  more  than  an  Overture  to  America?  Certainly  not, 
because  no  Authority  had  been  given  by  the  People  to  conclude  it.  nor  to 
this  very  hour  have  they  authorized  its  ratification — the  Articles  of  Con- 
federation remain  still  unsigned. 

"In  the  firm  persuasion,  therefore,  that  the  private  .ludgment  of  an.v 
Individual  Citizen  of  this  Country  is  as  free  from  all  Conventional  Ke- 
straints  since,  ps  before  the  Insidious  offers  of  France,  I  pref(>rred  those 
from  Great  Britain.  lhiid<ing  it  infinitely  wiser  and  safer  to  cast  my  Confi- 
dence upon  her  Justice  and  Generosity,  than  to  trust  a  Monarchy  too 
feeble  to  establish  your  Independency,  so  Perilous  to  her  distant  Domin- 
ions, the  Enemy  of  the  I'rotestant  Faith,  and  fraudulently  avowing  an 
affection  for  the  lil)erties  of  mankind,  while  she  holds  her  Native  Sons 
in  Vassalage  and  Chains. 

"  1  affect  no  disguise,  and  therefore  Frankly  declare  that  in  these  Prin- 
ciples, 1  had  determined  to  retain  my  arms  and  C;  inmand  lor  an  ojipor- 
tunity  to  surrender  them  to  threat  Britain,  and  in  concei'ting  the  .Measures 
for  a  purpose,  in  my  Opinion,  as  grateful  as  it  would  have  been  beneficial 
to  my  Country;  I  was  only  soli(.itous  to  accouiplish  an  event  of  decisive 
Importance,  and  to  prevent,  as  much  as  possible  in  the  Execution  of  it, 
the  lOffusion  of  blood. 

"  With  the  highest  satisfaction  1  bear  testimony  to  my  old  Fellow  Sol- 
diers and  Citizens,  that  I  find  solid  (iround  to  rely  upon  the  Clemency  ot 
our  Sovereign,  and  abundant  Conviction  that  it  is  the  generous  Intentioii 
of  Great  Britain,  not  only  to  have  the  Rights  and  privileges  of  the  Colo- 


n 


(!• 


« 


332 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


niea  uninipairod,  to^'ethor  with  their  porpetnal  exemption  from  taxation, 
but  to  supera<hl  such  further  benefits  as  may  consist  with  the  Common 
lu-osperity  of  the  J^mpire.  In  short,  1  fouyht  for  much  less  than  the  Pa- 
rent Country  is  as  willing  to  grant  to  her  Colonies,  as  they  can  be  to 
receive  or  enjoy. 

"  Some  may  think  I  continued  in  the  straggle  of  those  unhappy  days 
too  long,  and  others  that  I  quitted  it  too  soon.  To  the  first  1  reply,  that 
1  did  not  see  with  their  p]yes,  nor  perhaps  had  so  favorable  a  situation  to 
look  from,  and  that  to  one  Common  Master  I  am  willing  to  stand  or  fall. 
In  behalf  of  the  Candid  among  the  latter,  some  of  whom  I  believe  serve 
blindly  but  honestly  in  the  Kanks  I  have  left,  I  pray  Go  to  give  them  all 
the  lights  requisite  to  their  Own  Safety  before  it  is  too  Lae;  and  with  res- 
pect to  that  kiml  of  Censurers  whose  Enmity  to  me  Originates  in  their 
hatred  to  the  I'rinciples,  by  which  I  am  now  led  to  devote  my  life  to  the 
Reunion  of  the  British  Empire,  as  the  best  and  only  means  U)  dry  up  the 
streams  of  misery  that  have  delrged  this  country,  they  may  be  assured 
that.  Conscious  of  the  Kectitudo  of  my  Intentions,  I  shall  treat  their 
Malice  and  Calumnies  with  Contenqit  and  neglect. 

*'B.  AUNOLD. 

"New  Youk,  Oct.  7th,  1780." 

A  few  days  thereafter  he  issued  a  proclamation  "To  tlic 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Continental  Army  who  have  the 
real  interests  of  their  Country  at  heart  and  who  are  deter- 
mined to  be  no  longjr  the  dupes  of  Congress  or  of  France." ' 

1.  The  following  Is  the  rroflamntion  in  full,  copied  from  the  original  draft 
among  the  J'uice papers,  in  the  CongressioriUl  Library  ut  Washington: 

"By 
"Brigadier  GESEnAL  Arnold. 

"  A  I'KOCI.AMATION. 

"To  the  OlTiccrs  and  Soldiers  of  tlie  Continciitiil  Army  who  have  the  real  Interest 
of  their  Country  at  Ueart,  and  who  are  determined  to  be  no  longer  the  Tools  and 
])upes  of  Congress,  or  of  France. 

"  Having  Keason  to  believe  tliat  the  Principle?  I  have  avowed,  in  my  Address  to 
y"  Public  of  the  7th  instant,  animated  y«  greatest  part  of  this  Continent,  I  rejoice  In 
tlie  OpportiHiity  I  have  of  inviting  you  to  join  liis  Majesty's  Arms. 

"Ilis  Excellency,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  has  autliorized  me  to  raise  a  Corps  of  Cavalry 
and  Infantry,  wlio  are  to  be  clothed,  suljsisted  and  paid  as  tlie  otlier  ('orps  are  in 
the  british  Service,  and  those  who  bring  in  Horses,  Arms,  or  Accoutrements,  are  to 
be  paid  their  value,  or  have  liberty  to  sell  them.  To  every  non-Commissioncd 
(Officer  and  Private  a  Bounty  of  three  Guineas  will  be  given,  and  as  tlie  Com- 
iinuuler-in  Chief  is  pleased  to  allow  me  to  nominate  the  officers,  Ishall  with  infinite 
Satisfaction  embrace  this  Oi>portuiiity  of  advancing  men  wlioso  valor  I  have  wit- 
nessed, and  wlnse  Principles  are  favorable  to  an  union  with  Uritiun  and  true 
American  Liberty. 


t 

III 


il'''f 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    IIIS    TREASON. 


333 


lie  announces  to  his  former  fellow-soldiers  that  Sir  Henry 
Clintun  had  authorized  him  to  raise  a  corps  of  cavalry  and 
infantry,  and  he  then  o;oes  on  to  state  the  inducements  of- 
fered to  those  who  will  join  him.     He  says: 

"  As  the  Commander-in-Cliief  is  pleased  to  allow  me  to  nominate  tho 
OrticcTs,  T  shall  with  infinite  satisfaction  embrace  this  opportunity  of  ad- 
vancinf?  men  whose  valor  I  have  witnessed,  and  wliose  principles  are 
favorable  to  an  union  with  Britain  and  true  American  liberty." 

After  alluding  to  the  liberal  pay  and  other  inducements 

"  The  Rank  they  obtain  In  the  King's  Forvice  will  bear  a  Proportion  to  their  former 
Raiilv  and  ye  Number  of  Men  tliey  l)rin!^  with  them. 

"It  is  expecteil  tliat  a  I-ieuteiiniitC'oloiicl  of  Cavalry  will  bring  with  him  or  re- 
cruit in  a  reasonable  time— "73  men.  Miijor  of  Horse,  50  Men  ;  Lieut,  (.'ol.  of  Infant- 
ry, 75  Men ;  Captain  of  Horse,  30  Men  ;  Major  of  Inlantry,  .'jO  Men ;  Lieut,  of  Hursu, 
15  Men;  Coptain  of  Infantry,  "0  Men;  Cornet  of  Horse,  1'2  Men  ;  Lieutenant  of  In 
fantry,  15  Men;  Sergeant  of  Horse  C  Men ;  Ensign  of  Infantry,  12  Men  ;  Sergeant  of 
Infantry,  6  Men. 

"X.  1!.  Kach  Field  Officer  will  have  a  Company.  Great  as  this  Encouragement 
must  appear  to  such  as  have  sutVercd  every  Distress,  of  Want,  of  I'aiu,  Hunger  ainl 
Naliedness.  from  the  Xe.;lect,  Conteni)it  and  Corruption  of  Co)igro-s,  tliey  are  noili- 
ing  to  the  Motives  which  I  exi)ect  will  influence  llie  brave  and  generous  Minds  1 
hope  to  have  the  Honor  to  command,  and  I  wish  to  have  a  Chosen  Band  of  Ameri- 
cans to  ye  Attainment  of  Tcace,  Lil)c>rty,  and  Safety  (that  first  object  in  taking  tlie 
Field)  and  with  them  to  share  in  the  glory  of  rescuing  our  native  Country  from  the 
grasping  Hand  of  Erance  as  well  as  fromtlie  ambitious  and  li.terested  Views  of  a 
desperate  Party  among  oursi  Ives,  who,  in  listening  to  French  Overtures,  and 
rejecting  those  from  Great  Jiritain,  have  brought  y«  Colonies  lo  yu  very  Brink  of 
Destruction. 

"Friends,  fellow  Poldiers,  and  Citizens,  arouse  and  judge  for  yourselves— reflect 
on  what  you  have  lost— consider  to  what  you  are  reduced,  and  by  your  Courage 
repel  the  Ruin  that  still  threatens  you. 

"Your  Countryonce  was  happy,  and  had  the  proffered  Peace  been  embraced,  your 
last  two  years  of  Misery  had  been  spent  in  Peace  and  Plenty,  and  repairing  the 
Desolations  of  a  Qiuirrel  tluit  would  have  set  yo  Interest  of  Great  Britain  and 
America  in  its  true  Light,  and  cemented  tlieir  Friendship  ;  whereas,  you  are  now 
the  Prey  of  Avarice,  the  scorn  of  your  Enemies,  and  y«  Pity  of  your  Friends. 

"  You  were  promised  Liberty  by  ye  Leaders  of  yourafl'airs,  but  is  there  an  indi- 
vidual in  ye  Enjoyment  of  it,  saving  yrur  Oppressors?  Who  amongyoudarespciik 
or  write  what  he  thinks,  against  tlie  Tyranny  which  has  rcjbbed  you  of  your  Prop- 
erty, imprisons  your  I'ersons,  drags  you  to  ye  Held  of  Battle,  and  is  daily  deluging 
your  Coiuitry  with  your  Blood. 

"  You  were  flattered  witli  Independence  as  preferable  to  a  Redress  of  Grievances, 
and  for  that  Sliaduw,  instead  of  real  Felicity,  are  sunk  into  all  y»  Wretclieduess  of 
Poverty  by  tlie  Rapacity  of  your  own  Rulers.  Already  are  you  disqualified  to  sup- 
port y»  Pride  of  Character  tliey  taught  you  to  aim  at,  and  must  inevitably  shortly 
belong  to  one  or  other  of  the  great  Powers,  their  folly  and  wickedness  have  drawn 


II 


?l 


334 


LIFE   OF   BEXEDTCT    ARNOLD. 


offered  "to  such  as  liave  suffered  every  distress  of  want, 
pain,  liunger  and  nakedness,  from  the  nei^lect  and  cor- 
ruption of  Congress,"  he  says,  speaking  of  these  considera- 
tions: 

"  Thoy  are  nothin;?  to  tho  motives  whicli  I  expect  will  influence  the, 
bravo  and  generous  niinds  I  liopo  to  have  tho  honor  to  Coniniand.  I 
•wish  to  have  a  chosen  band  oi' A  iiiericans  to  yn  attainment  of  peace,  lil)- 
crty  and  safety,  that  tirst  o)!iect  in  taking  y  lii-ld,  and  with  then;  to 
sharo  in  the  glory  of  rescuing  our  native  Country  from  the  grasping 
hand  of  France,  as  well  as  from  the  ambitious  and  interested  Views  of  a 
desperate  party  among  ourselves,  who  in  listening  to  French  Overtures, 
and  rejecting  those  from  Great  15ritain,  have  brought  ye  Colonics  to  tho 
very  brink  of  destruction.  I,  therefore,  only  add  my  promise  of  the  most 
aifectio)iate  welcome  and  attention  to  all  who  are  disposed  to  join  me,  in 
the  measures  necessary  to  close  the  scene  of  our  afflictions.  With  ye  res- 
toration of  our  ancient  priviledges,  civil  and  sacred,  and  a  perpetual 
exemption  from  all  taxes  bat  such  as  we  shall  see  fit  to  impose  upon  our- 
selves." 

Into  Conflipt.  ITnppy  for  yon  that  yon  may  still  liccome  tlio  feUow  subjects  of  Groat 
Uritaiii,  11'  yon  nobly  disdiiin  to  be  Va'^als  of  France. 

"  Wliut  is  Americabnt  a  I.aiiil  of  Widows,  lii'iijinrs,  and  <")rplianR?— and  should  tho 
Paroiit  Nation  cease  her  Exertion  to  deliver  ynu,  what  security  remains  to  you  for 
the  cnjoyracut  of  ye  (.'onsolatioiis  of  thai  Religion  for  whieli  your  Fathers  braved 
the  Ocean,  ye  Heathen,  and  ye  Wildcrnes-s?  I'o  you  knov,-  that  the  Eye  which 
fjuides  this  pen  lately  saw  your  mean  and  prfifliuate  Congress  at  Mass  for  the  soul 
of  a  Roman  Catholic  in  iinr>;aiory,  and  pi  riiciiialiuK  in  the  ri),dils  of  a  Church 
nijainst  whose  Ami  christian  ( (irnijitions  yoiir  pious  Am  estors  would  have  wit- 
nessed with  their  Blooil. 

"  As  to  you  who  liave  been  Poldii>rs  in  tho  Ccnt'rcntiil  Army,  canyon  at  this  Day 
want  Evidence  that  the  Fun-Is  of  your  Country  are  exliausted,or  that  the  Managers 
have  applyeil  them  to  their  own  private  Uses?  In  either  ease  you  surely  can  con- 
tinue no  longer  in  their  Service  with  Honor  or  Advantage  :  yet  you  have  hitherto 
been  their  Supporters  of  that  Cruelty,  which,  with  an  equal  ImlifTeronce  to  your,  as 
well  as  to  the  Labor  and  Rlood  of  others,  is  devouring  aCountry,  whichye  moment 
you  quit  their  Colours,  will  be  redeemed  frcmi  their  Tyranny. 

"Rut  what  Need  of  Arguments  to  such  as  feel  infinitely  more  Misery  than  Lan- 
guage can  express?  I  thereri)ro  only  add  my  Promise  of  ye  niost  affectionate  Wei- 
romo  and  Att.'ntion  to  all  who  are  disjwsed  to  joyn  nie  in  the  Measures  necessary 
to  close  the  scene  of  our  afUictions,  whicli  iiuolerable  as  they  are,  must  continue  to 
increase  xnitill  \Ve  have  the  Wisdom  (shewn  of  late  by  Ireland)  in  being  contented 
with  ye  Liberality  of  the  Parent  Country,  who  still  oilers  her  Protection,  with  yo 
Smmediate  Restoration  of  our  ancient  I'rivilt  ges,  civil  and  .«acred,  and  a  perpetual 
Exemption  from  all  Taxes,  but  such  as  we  shall  think  fit  to  Impose  on  ourselves. 

"B.  AUNOLD. 

"New  YoRic,  October 20, 1780." 


_ilF 


HIS    TATRIOTIS^I    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


Such  was  Arnold's  anxious  but  (lisinjjenuous  defense,  and 
sucli  liis  impassioned  a])peal  tu  liis  late  fellow  soldiers  to 
jitin  liim, 

"I  fou<fht  for  much  less,"  says  he,  "than  the  Parent 
Country  is  willinii^  t(^  i^rant." 

Most  of  his  countrymen  read  his  address  with  scorn  and 
derision,  and  all  tliat  can  he  said  now,  when  prejudice  and 
feelinp^  are  be<i^innin<r  to  pass  away,  and  when  candid  men 
are  dis]x\sed  by  his  wrongs  and  his  heroism  to  consider  fa- 
vorably every  circumstance,  the  most  tins  !an  say  is,  that 
while  his  conduct  was  in  the  higliest  dei;ree  culpable,  and 
liis  f;uilt  clear,  yet  givin<^  him  die  benefit  of  a  doubt,  it  is 
jiossible  that,  led  astray  by  his  wroni^s  and  his  passions,  he 
may  at  times  have  tried  to  deceive  himself  into  the  belief 
that  he  was  justifiable. 

His  efforts  to  induce  the  soldiers  of  the  Continental  army 
to  desert,  met  with  no  considerable  sncccss.  However  severe 
their  suiferinii;s,  and  huwevcr  hard  their  treatment,  7io  con- 
sideraticui  could  induce  them  to  desert  their  fla<^.  Ther*' 
were  indeed  a  considerable  nundier  of  loyal  Americans,  to- 
rics  aiul  rcfuiijeijs,  and  from  these  Arnold  succeeded  in 
organiziui,'  his  corps.  The  American  I'eader  (»f  Sabine's 
Loyalists  is  often  sur]irise<l  by  bis  re]>resentations  of  the 
number  and  respectability  <^)f  those  who  adhered  to  the 
Crown.' 

Lord  George  (iermain,  the  llritish  minister  for  the  Colo- 
nies, wrote  to  Arnold,  coiiiiiming  the  rank  of  briiradiei'- 
general,  conferred  upon  him  l>y  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  gi\ - 

1.  Snbiiio  says,  Vol.  I,  )).  l>i:  "  Thi- I'xiniiiiintinn  •  •  *  luails  to 'ho  coiiplu^icii 
tlint  the  number  of  our  ('oiiiUryiiK'n  wiio  wished  to  poiitiiiiie  tlielr  eoniiectldn  willi 
tlie  mother  country  wns  very  hiiRc."  'J  ho  Loyalists  in  ncirly  every  coh.ny  clninie'l 
a  ninjirity,  bnt  thattliey  were  mistaken,  he  thinks,  is  certain.  A  conslileralilcixjrtini-. 
of  the  learned  professions  aiUiereil  to  the  crown.  IIi.>  estimates  iliat  the  nuniler 
of  Loyalists  who  took  nj)  arms  for  the  Kintj,  "wore  i'l.t'fio  at  the  hiwcst  comjinta- 
tion."  (Sal)ine  Vol.  I.  ]).  70  )  Tliis  estimate  snriitisesnie.  ami  is  far  more  than  I  liud 
supposed,  but  Sabine's  judgment  on  the  subject  is  gntitleU  to  great  respect. 


•ft  .'  SI 

J' 


I 


33G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


ing  the  sanction  of  the  government  to  the  autliority  which 
had  been  conferred  upon  him  to  raise  a  corps  of  loyal  Amer- 
icans,    lie  also  said: 

"His  Miijesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  express  his  fatisfaction  in 
the  demonstration  you  have  given  of  the  sincerity  of  your  allegiance, 
and  of  your  earnest  desire  to  atone  for  past  errors,  by  a  zealous  attach- 
ment to  his  royal  person  and  government  in  future." 

Meanwhile,  such  was  the  indignation  towards  Ai'nold  iii 
the  American  army  and  among  the  people,  that  rewards 
were  offered  for  his  ca])tnre,  and  a  project  was  devised  to 
kidnap  and  bring  him  witliin  the  American  lines  for  exe- 
cution. On  the  Itjth  of  October,  j\[ajur  Lee  wrote  to 
Washington  saying:  "  I  have  engaged  two  persons  to 
undertake  the  accomplishment  of  your  Excellency's 
wishes  "  * 

'•  The  outlines  of  the  scheme  which  I  have  recommended, 
are,  that  the  sergeant  (Champe)  should  join  General  Arnold 
as  a  deserter  from  us,  should  engage  in  his  corps  now  raising; 
should  contrive  to  insinuate  himself  into  some  menial  or 
military  birth  about  the  General's  person;  that  a  corres- 
pondence should  bo  kept  up  with  the  mi, a  in  Newark 
(a  confederate),  by  the  latter's  visiting  the  former  every  two 
days,  and  that  when  the  favorable  moment  arrives,  they 
should  seize  the  prize  in  the  night,  gag  him,  and  bring  him 
across  to  Bergen  AVoods. 

"  If  your  Excellency  approves,  the  sergeant  will  desert  to- 
morrow— a  few  guineas  will  be  necessary,  &c."  " 

To  which  "Washington  replied,  approving  the  scheme, 
and  furnishing  the  guineas,  with  the  express  stijnilation  that 
Arnold  should  be  brought  to  him  alive. 

"  No  circumstance  whatever  shall  obtain  my  consent  to  his  being  put 
to  death.    The  idea  that  would  accompany  such  an  act  would  be  that  rutK- 

1.  Sparks'  Writings  of  Wasliington,  Vol.  VII,  p.  545. 

2.  Lee  lo  Washington.    Sparks'  Writiugs  of  Washinitou,  Vol.  VII,  p.  DIG. 


HIS   rATPvlOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASOX. 


Jins  hivl  lioon  liiroil  toasfassiiiivtoliim.     !Myaiiu  is  to  malcL'  a  piililic  oxaiii- 
lilc  lit'  luiii.'"  ' 

On  tli'3  21st  of  October,  tlic  serijeant,  Jolm  Chaiupo,  dc- 
scM-tod  Lee's  coiinnaiitl,  reached  the  Dritish  line.'*,  treaolier- 
ously  enlisted  into  tlie  C()r]>s  Ariiohl  was  raisinii^,  lie  had  tlie 
cuiiiiiiiii^  and  address  to  ''  insinuate  himself"  into  a  licrtli  or 
eni[)l()ynient  ahont  that  olKcer's  person,  and  eveiy  arranije- 
nient  was  made  to  kidna]>  Arnold  at  nii;ht,  in  a  y-arden  in 
the  rear  of  the  house  he  occupied,  to  f^air  him,  carry  him  to 
a  boat,  and  across  the  Hudson,  and  deliver  him  to  Lee  to 
1)0  made  "a  public  example  of."  Lee,  on  the  ni-^ht  ap- 
pointed, repaired  with  three  of  his  dra<>-oons,  and  led  horses 
to  the  woods  of  Iloboken,  in  Xew  Jersey,  o]>posite  New 
York,  and  waited  some  h(jurs  to  receive  the  cai)tlve. 

But  on  the  night  in  which  the  conspiracy  was  to  bo  exe- 
cuted, Arnold  removed  his  qinirters,  and  the  project  failed. 

Had  Arnold  been  captured  in  battle  his  execution  would 
have  been  summary  and  prompt,  and  by  his  own  treacher- 

1.    The  following  is  the  text  of  Washington's  lettiT— (Writings  of  Wa-liingtoii, 
Vol.  VII,  5iG-T) . 

"  IlEAD  QfAnTrus.  20  O  •tolier,  iTsn. 

"  Df.au  Sin: — The  plan  proposed  for  taking  A ,  the  (iiiillntsof  wliich  nre  com- 

iiiuiiicaticl  in  your  luttir,  wliich  wiis  this  monu'iit  put  inti)  my  Iiaiuls  witlioiit  ii 
(late,  has  every  mark  of  a 'good  one.  I  tlierefiro  agree  tn  tlie  iirnniiscil  rewMnls. 
and  have  such  entire  ronticlence  in  yonr  management  ol'  the  biisiiies.s,  us  to  give  it 
my  fnllest  approbation;  and  leave  the  whole  to  the  gnidance  of  ymir  own  jndg 
ment,  with  this  exjiress  sti|  ulalion  and  pointed  injnnetion,  that  lie  (Ar— d)  is 
brought  to  me  alive.  Nocireiimsianee  whatever  shall  obtain  my  eunsent  to  his  being 
put  to  death.  The  idea  whieh  wotdd  necompany  such  an  event  would  lethal 
rullians  had  been  hired  to  assassinate  him.  My  aim  is  to  make  a  public  examjile 
of  him  ;  it  this  should  be  sti<in'_'ly  imiaes^ed  nipon  tlu  se  wlm  are  employed  to  bring 
hiir.  off.  The  sergeant  must  be  very  cireiimspcet ;  too  nundi  zeal  may  create  s\is- 
l>icion,  and  too  much  precipitancy  nuiy  defeat  the  project.  The  must  inviolable 
^ecrecj;  must  be  observed  on  all  hands.  I  uind  you  five  giineas.  but  I  am  not  snt 
isfled  of  the  propriety  of  the  Sergeant's  appearing  with  much  .specie.  This  clrcnm- 
slance  may  also  lead  to  stispicl -n,  as  it  is  but  too  well  known  to  the  enemy,  tha' 
we  do  not  abound  in  this  article.  The  interviews  between  the  jiaity  in  (tout  of  tin* 
city  >honld  be  managed  with  much  caution  &  seeming  indilfcreuce  orebe  the  Ire- 
(piemy  of  their  meetings  may  betray  the  design  and  invfilvebad  c(jnse(inences  : 
but  1  am  persuaded  you  will  place  every  matter  in  a  proper  imiiit  of  view  to  tlie 
conductors  of  this  interesting  business,  and  therefore  I  shall  only  add  that 

"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  etc." 

22 


:l'!-!' 


IK 


I  :  i  \ 


338 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


oils  conduct  at  West  Point  he  was  esto])pc'(l  from  complain- 
ing of  any  false] lood  or  treachery  ])ractice(l  U])on  him.  I'ut 
would  it  not  liave  been  more  in  accordance  with  our  hii^hest 
ideal  of  Washington— ^an  ideal  of  almost  immaculate  nobil- 
ity and  excellence — if  this  kidiia]i])iiig  and  gagging  husi- 
ness.  a  scheme  to  bo  accomjdisluMl  by  treachery  and  breach 
of  trust,  had  been  left  entirely  to  the  ]>rovost-niarshal  ^ ' 

In  Washington's  instructions  to  IjiFayette,  when  the  lat- 
ter was  sent  to  Virginia  to  act  against  Arnold,  he  was  told, 
"You  arc  to  do  no  act  whatever  with  Arnold  that  directly 
or  b}'^  implication  may  screen  him  from  the  i)unishment 
due  to  his  treason  and  deserticjii,  which  if  he  should  hill  into 
your  hands,  you  will  ',  xecute  in  the  most  summary  way."'' 

On  the  2Tth  of  October,  as  before  stated,  the  authorities 
of  Pennsylvania  passed  a  resolution  requiring  ^h».  Arnold 
to  leave  that  State  within  fourteen  days,  and  forbidding  her 
return  during  the  war,  and  soon  after  she  joined  her  hus- 
band in  1«lie  city  of  New  York.  She  would  have  remained 
longer  with  her  father  and  friends  in  Philadelphia  but  for 
this  resolution. 

Judging  from  the  tone  and  character  of  all  her  letters, 

1.  rorhnps  from  an  American  slnii(li)oint,  even  this  criticism  mny  t)e  tlioiiglit 
over-nice.  Arnold  wns,  tutlie  army  he  lunl  ilcsertcd,  an  oiillmr ;  and  a  sanction  of 
tlie  proposed  abduction  of  liii,dier  autliority  tlian  tlial  of  Sir  \ValtL,'r  Scott  mif,'lit  Ijo 

found,  wlieii  lie  says  t 

"  The  lieast  of  Kftme, 
The  privilege  of  cliase  may  claim, 

*  S;  *  *  * 

Though  space,  and  law  the  sta;^  we  lend, 

E'er  hound  we  slip,  or  bow  we  beml, 

Wlio  ever  reclced,  where,  how,  or  when 

The  iirnwlins  fox  was  trajiped  or  slain  ?" 
But  Arnold,  however  execrable  his  comluct  at  West  Point,  Iinil  nf)t  acted  like  the 
"  prowliUK  Fox"  at  ItidKetlelil  c)r  nt  Saratoga.  Arnold's  conduct  wijuld  justify  the 
most  summary  punishment  from  his  comrades,  had  he  been  captured.  But  the 
question  is,  whether  we  would  not  ratlicr  have  uivcn  him  "  the  privilege  of  chase:" 
and  if  he  was  to  l)e  treacherously  UidTiapped.  wlictlier  wc  would  n  t  ratlier  tlie 
plan  should  have  been  devised  and  executed  by  tlie  I'rovost  Marshal'.' 

■J.  Washington  to  LaFayettu,  Feb.  'iuth,  ITSl.  'Writings  of  Washing. ^n,'  Vol. 
Vll,  p.  41'J. 


i 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


339 


and  her  devoted  nft'eetion  for  General  Arnold,  I  do  not 
donl)t  that  she  would  have  joined  him  at  an  early  i)eriod 
without  .such  resolution.  She  was  not  one  to  abandon  a 
tViend  or  relation,  much  less  a  husband  in  misfortune,  even 
althouijh  that  misfortune  was  the  result  of  ^uilt. 

Hamilton,  writing  to  Miss  Schuyler,  sjieaking  of  j\[rs. 
Arnold,  says:  "Her  horror  at  the  guilt  of  the  traitor  is  lost 
in  her  love  of  the  man."  Indeed,  it  is  clear  from  her  con- 
duct, and  her  letters  to  her  father,  hereafter  to  be  (juoted. 
that  her  husband  never  ceased  to  be  the  hero  of  her  young 
imagination.  On  her  Avay  to  Xew  York,  as  Avell  as  in  Phila- 
delphia, she  had  abundant  and  })ainful  evidence  of  the  ])oj)- 
ular  indignation  against  him.  The  po])ulace  of  Piuladel])hia 
had  burned  his  elhgy  with  every  possible  indignity,  and  on 
lier  journey  to  New  York  with  her  young  child,  night  over- 
took her,  and  she  stopped  at  a  village  where  ]»reparations  li.ad 
l)een  made  to  repeat  the  indignity,  l)ut  when  she  a])peared 
sith  her  infant,  her  sad  face,  her  sorrowful  air,  her  gentle- 
ness, her  beauty,  so  touched  the  hearts  of  the  ])eo])le,  that 
with  a  delicacy  and  consideration  honorable  to  the  American 
character,  they  postponed  the  exhibition  until  after  her  de- 
parture. On  her  arrival  in  New  York  she  was  welcomed  by 
many  old  friends  among  the  British  officers  and  their  fami- 
lies, who  had  been  the  guests  of  her  father  in  l^hiladelphia 
while  that  city  was  held  by  the  Tloyal  army,  yet  her  sadness 
and  melancholy  was  the  subject  of  i-emark  and  sympathy. 
Gradually,  however,  in  the  society  of  her  husband,  and  the 
company  of  her  child,  and  the  kind  and  affectionate  atten- 
tions of  her  friends,  she  recovered  hers])irits,  and  her  beauty 
and  her  grace  made  her  there,  as  she  had  been  in  her  native 
town,  the  favorite  among  the  best  and  most  cultured  circles 
of  that  city. 

Arnold's  explanation  of  his  conduct  and  motives,  as  ex- 
pressed in  his  address  to  his  countrymen  and  proclamation 


P 


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340 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


to  tlic  soldiers  of  the  army  in  Mliieli  lie  liiid  lately  served, 
while  they  were  received  and  read,  as  has  heen  stated,  with 
indignation  and  scorn  by  the  American  people  and  his  (»ld 
comrades,  was  generally  acee])ted  as  satisfactory  by  the  Brit- 
ish oiKcers,  and  by  the  large  nund)cr  of  loyalists  then  con- 
gregated in  the  city  of  New  York.  They  looked  upon  tho 
act  as  a  return  to  his  allegiance. 

To  understand  this,  one  must  go  back  and  try  to  realize 
the  views  of  the  officers  and  adherents  of  the  Crown. 

The  Colonies  took  up  arms  to  obtain  a  redress  of  griev- 
ances, disavowing  at  first,  with  indignation,  that  their  pur- 
pose was  sc])aration  and  indei)endence. 

Even  John  Adams  said,  after  the  war  was  over,  "there 
was  not  a  moment  during  the  Ilevolution  when  I  would  not 
have  given  everything  I  possessed  for  a  restoration  to  the 
state  of  things  before  the  contest  bei\an,  provided  we  could 
have  had  a  sufficient  security  for  its  continuation."  '  The 
leaders  of  the  lievolution  have  been  canonized,  and  they 
merited  all  the  honors  they  have  received,  for  they  were 
among  the  noblest  patriots  that  ever  lived,  but  like  other 
men  they  were  mortal  and  subject  to  like  frailties.  The 
American  Loyalists  were  not  all  of  tin  ni  deserving  of  dam- 
nation. The  student  of  historv  will  lind  some  names  of 
men  of  high  i")ersonal  character  and  of  culture;  and  many 
who,  but  for  political  diiferences,  would  linve  been  consi<l- 
ered  ornaments  to  any  State.  Such  were  some  of  the  Went- 
worths  of  New  Hampshire;  the  Fairfaxes  and  Robinsons 
of  Virginia;  Dana  and  Coffin  and  Proscott,  of  ]\[assaohu- 
setts;  Ogdon  and  Governor  Franklin,  of  Kew  Jersey  (son 
of  Dr.  Franklin);  The  Crugars,  some  of  the  DeLaiicys,  and 
DePeysters,  Yan  Schaacks,  Clintons  and  Jaj'S,  of  New  York; 
and  it  was  among  men  of  this  class  that  Arnold  was  now 
thrown,  some  of  whom  were  much  more  likely  to  condemn 

1.    SabiiK's  Loyalists,  Vol.  I,  p.  64. 


HIS   rATKIOTISJI    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


311 


liim  for  liis  delay  in  joining  the  Britisli  army  tliaii  f(»r  join- 
iiiju;  it  wlit'ii  he  litl.  Still  few,  if  any,  lioiioniMe  J}riti>li 
Holdier  ov  n[»ri<j^lit  lovivlist  could,  even  from  their  stand- 
]>()iiit,  justify  his  desertion,  and  esjteeially  the  manner  of 
his  fliaii<^e  from  the  American  to  the  IJritish  side. 

It  is  iidt  impdssihle,  had  the  enns])iracy  heen  successful, 
that  independence  miirht  have  heen  postponed.  In  the 
lii^dit  of  to-dny,  and  with  the  wonderful  advance,  and  the 
luilliant  record  our  country  has  mside,  all  will  rejoice  in  the 
/.lilure  of  the  cous])ira('y ;  and  all  can  reali/.e  how  tj^reatly  <nir 
country  has  heen  heneiitetl  hy  the  sticcess  of  the  Kt'volu- 
tion; — as  colonies  that  advance  would  have  been  greatly  re- 
tarded. 

Had  Great  Britain  succeeded  in  re-estal>lishing  her  su- 
])reir.ac},  taught  hy  eN])erience,  she  jirohahly  M'ould  have 
heen  Avisely  nu)derate,  and  jiermitted  to  the  Colonies  suh- 
srantial  SL'ir-governnu'nt.  The  men  of  culture  and  wealth, 
the  men  of  the  learned  jirofessions,  who,  iSahine  says,  to  a 
considerable  extent  adhered  to  the  Crown,  uniting  with  tlie 
more  conservative  ])art  of  the  revolutionary  jwirty,  of  whom 
Washington,  Hamilton,  Jay,  and  many  of  the  old  Federal 
])arty  were  representatives,  as  against  those  represented  by 
Thomas  Paine  and  defferson,  and  the  more  radical  and  ex- 
treme democrats,  might  for  a  time  at  least  have  influenced, 
probably  controlled,  afi'urs,  and  the  blessings  and  evils  of 
extreme  democracy  and  universal  sulfrage  might  have  been 
delayed. 

It  is  not  impossible  that  institutions  modeled  more  upon 
the  views  of  Hamilton  might  have  been  finally  adopted. 

The  first  century  of  our  existence  as  a  nation,  .ii  the  hap- 
piness and  ])rospcrity  of  tlu;  ])Oo]de,  will  c(»m]>are  favorably 
with  that  of  any  other,  aud  thus  far  M'e  have  good  reason  to 
be  well  satisfied  with  our  institutions,  and  ])r.tf<)undly  grate- 
ful to  those  who  achieved  our  independence  and  established 
our  national  ifovernnient. 


m 


ClIAPTEK  XIX. 

ARNOLD   LEADS  DinTlSH  SOLDIERS  AGAINST  HIS   NATIVE 

COUNTRY. 

"  He  Ml  liinv  fnlnt  nui\  iicMy  dim 

'I'liu  riililc    tllllt   CllUlll    llCCIlIt'   to   iiiui 

Wliofluircd  ihc  hiii.d  mid  wiivcil  the  sword—   • 
A  Traitur  in  u  luilmned  Imrdu. " 

Arnoi-d  Leads  an  Expedition  ahainst  VinoixiA  and  Connectici't— Massacre 
AT  Fort  Griswoi.d— Arnold's  Narrow  Escai'k  kikim  Death  uy  the  Hands  oi- 
A  Woman  at  New  London. 

WiiKN  General  Arnold  .nccopted  the  ntinniission  of  Kin<; 
Gcori^e  in  1780,  he  was  thirty-nine  and  his  wife  twenty-one 
years  of  a<re. 

lie  had  fonr  sons  then  living.  JJencdict  about  twelve, 
liichard  about  eleven,  and  Henry,  eijjrht  years  of  age — child- 
ren by  his  first  wife,  and  an  infant,  Edward  8hi]>pen,  by  his 
Beeond  wife. 

Two  months  after  his  arrival  in  Kew  York,  restless  and 
eajjer  to  take  the  field,  he  soui^ht  and  obtained  the  ooniniaud 
of  an  expedition  ('oin]K»sed  of  about  1,(!(.KI  men,  against  Vir- 
ginia. He  sailed  from  xSew  York  about  the  2uth  of  Decem- 
ber, 1780.  A  violent  gale  se])arated  the  fleet  on  which  the 
troops  were  embarked,  bnt  the  scattered  vessels  gathered 
near  the  Capes  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  on  the  30th  of  Decem- 
ber, he,  with  the  Heet,  entered  Hampton  lloads,  e.\ce])t  one 
armed  ship  and  three  transjiorts,  with  upwards  of  four  liun- 

(342) 


I .? 


IIIH    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TUKAHOX. 


343 


iIi'imI  troops,  wliicli  (lid  not  arrivu  until  beverjii  duvs  atu-r, 
Witiiotit  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  niissini^  transportn, 
with  hirt  usual  activity,  Arnold  pushecl  up  tlu' .lanien  Itiver, 
and  on  tlie  3d  of  .lanuarv  lu;  anchored  lu'ur  .laniestown. 
and  the  next  day  ]troceeded  to  West(»vei',  where  he  landid, 
and  with  alxtut  eii,dit  iiundred  tronps  nuu'ched  into  Kich- 
mond,  destroying  all  jmhlic  jjroperly,  and  all  such  jtrivatt; 
])ro])erty  as  mijijlit  he  useful  in  carrying'  on  the  war;  niak 
in^'his  head(juarter8  at  the  ohl  City  Tavern  on  Main  stivet. 
IJefore  settin<^  fire  to  the  warehouses,  he  sent  a  proposition 
to  Jetl'erson,  (ioveriKa*  of  the  State,  oflerin*^  to  sj)are  the 
town  and  warehouses  on  condition  the  I'ritish  ships  should 
be  ])erniitted  to  come  up  unmolested  and  carry  away  the 
tobacco  and  stores.  The  (iovernor  ]>roinptly  rejected  the 
proposition,  and  the  torch  was  a))plied,  ami  it  is  said  there 
never  was  such  a  smell  of  tobacco  in  Richmond,  before  !ior 
since,  down  to  the  time  of  the  burning  of  that  city  in  lS(;,j, 
on  its  evacuation  by  Jetfei'son  Davis. 

'J'liis  accomplished,  and  the  foundries  and  mau^azines  at 
Westham  having  been  also  destroyed,  \\v.  retired  down  tlu^ 
river,  landed,  and  marched  to  I'ortsniouth,  where  he  threw 
up  entrenchments  for  his  winter  cam]).' 

Durino;  the  winter,  AV'ashinyton,  in  conjunction  with  the 
French,  sent  a  ])owerfnl  force  under  LaKayette  to  attempt 
his  ca])ture,  and  very  stronj;  hopes  were  entertained  by  the 
American  commander  that  he  would  succeed  in  seiziiii;  lilm 
Ijefore  reinforcements  could  arrive  from  New  ^'ork.  On 
the  2»>th  of  ]\Iarch  he  was  strengthened  by  thi'  arrival  of 
General  Phillips  with  additional  troops,  and  (Jeneral  J*hilli]»s 
out-rankiuf^  him,  took  command.  The  tbllowini;  is  the 
rejwrt  of  General  Arnold  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  givin^j  the 
detail  of  his  further  oj)erations  in  \'ii'ginia: 

1,    £.\i>cJitiuii  of  LaFayettc  aguiiist  Arnold,  by  J.  Aubtiu  Stephens. 


!« 


( f 


:141 


LIFE   or    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


'  "PKTEnsiuT.Gii,  Miiy  10,  1781. 

"  I  ;irn  I'xtivmel.v  sorry  to  inform  your  Ivic^i'enoy  that  Major-Gencrul 
l'liilli|»  is  rciluced  so  low  by  a  fever,  which  seized  himonthe2n'l  instant, 
that  h(.'  is  iiicaiialile  of  business,  ami  tlie  jiliysicians  an-  not  witliout  fears 
for  his  sai'ely.  In  this  situation  1  think  it  my  duty  to  transmit  to  your 
ExceUency,  by  express,  a  detail  of  the  prnceedinc's  of  the  army  under  the 
Orders  of  Miijor-liencriil  I'iiilliiis  since  they  K'ft  I'ortsir.outh  (which  his 
nidisposition  jirevented  him  Irom  doinj,'  as  he  intcndi'd). 

"On  the;  l>:th  of  April  the  liyht  infantry,  part  (,f  the  7fith  and 80tli  regi- 
ments, the  Queen's  Han]Sjers.  Yagers,  and  American  I  ej;-ion,  embarked  at 
T'ortsmouth,  and  lell  down  to  Hampton  I  loads;  on  the  19th  pro- 
ceeded np  .himes  l\iver  to  Iturwell's  Ferry;  on  the  20th  Lieut, 
(.'ol.  Abercrombio  with  tlie  light  infantry,  proceeded  np  the  Chick- 
ahominy  in  boat-;  Li'Mit.  Col.  Rimcoi-,  with  a  detachment  to  "^'ork;  Lieut. 
Col.  Dundas,  with  another  detachiuent  iamted  at  the  mouth  of  tl.e  Chick- 
ahorainy;  and  Major-Cieneral  I'hiilips  and  my  elf  landed  with  part  of  the 
army  at  "Williauisliurgh,  where  aliout  oijO  militia  were  posted,  who  re- 
tired u]ion  our  approach.  The  militia  at  York  crossed  the  river  before 
the  arrival  of  Lieut.  CoL  Simcoe,  who  made  a  few  prisoners,  spiked  and 
destroytnl  some  cannon,  and  next  day  returned  to  Williamsbm'gh. 

"  On  the  22nd  the  troops  marched  to  ChicAahominy.  AVo  were  met  on  the 
road,  five  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  by  Lieut.  Col.  Dundas,  with 
his  dctacluucnt.  This  evening  the  troops,  cavalry,  artillery,  &c.,  were 
reimbarked.  The  next  morning  wo  were  joined  by  Lieut.  Col.  Aber- 
crondiie,  with  the  light  infantry,  who  had  been  tenor  twelve  miles  up  the 
Chickahominy,  and  destroyed  several  armed  ships,  the  State  ship  yards, 
warehouses,  iVc. 

"  At  ten  o'clock  the  fleet  weighed,  and  proceeded  up  the  James  river, 
within  four  miles  of  Westover. 

"'Ihe  24th,  weighed  anchor  at  eleven,  and  ran  up  to  City  Point,  where 
the  troops,  &c.,  were  all  landed  at  six  in  the  evening. 

"The  2oth,  marched  at  ton  o'clock  for  Pctersburgh,  where  we  arrived 
about  five  r.  M.  Wo  were  opposed  about  one  mile  from  town  by  a  body 
of  militia  under  tla;  orders  of  lU-igadier  General  Muhlenberg,  supposed  to 
be  about  one  thousand  men,  who  were  soon  obliged  to  retire  over  the 
bridge  with  the  loss  of  near  one  hundred  men  killed  and  wounded,  as  we 
have  since  been  informed  :  our  k  ss  only  one  man  killed  and  ten 
wounded.  The  enemy  took  up  the  bridge,  which  prevented  our  pursu- 
ing them. 

"  26th.   Destroyed  at  Fetcrsburgh  four  thousand  hogsheads  of  tobacco, 

1.  Extract  of  Rn'nailicr  Ooiicril  Arnolil's  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  cupioil 
from  The  London  Utrunide,  Juue2;3,  2(i,  ITSl;  Vol.  XLIX,  p.  Ujl. 


i 


ins  rATi^ioTis:\[  and  his  treason. 


345 


one  ship  ami  a  nnmlipr  of  small  vesse's  on  the  stocks  and  in  the  river. 

"27tli.  Miijor  General  I'hiilips,  with  the  lipht  infantry,  part  of  the 
cavalry  of  the  tjiieen's  Kan<r(Ts,  and  a  part  of  the  Ya^'crs,  marched  to 
(.'liestertield  Court  House,  vvluu-e  they  burnt  a  raii^-'e  of  barracks  ibr  two 
thousand  men,  and  three  hundred  barrels  of  flour,  iVcc. 

"  Tlie  same  day  I  marched  to  Osborn's  with  the  THtli  ami '^Otli  rej^i- 
ments,  Queen's  Ran<,''ers,  part  of  tlie  Yagers,  and  Anaa-ican  Legion, 
where  we  arrived  about  noon.  Finding  the  enemy  had  a  very  considera- 
ble force  of  ships  ibur  miles  above  Usborn's,  ilniwn  uj)  in  a  line  to  oppose 
us,  I  sent  a  flag  lo  tin-  Comn.odoie,  proposing  to  treat  with  him  for  the 
surrender  of  his  fleet,  which  lie  refused,  with  this  answer,  "that  he  was 
determined  to  defend  it  to  the  last  extremity."  I  immediately  ordered 
down  two  six  au'l  tw.i  three-pounders,  brass  tieUl  pieces,  to  a  bank  of  the 
river,  nearly  level  with  the  water,  and  within  one  hundi-.'d  yards  of  the 
Tempest,  a  twenty  gun  State  ship,  which  began  innnediately  to  fire  upon 
us,  as  did  the  Renown,  of  twenty-six  guns,  the  .letferson,  a  State  biigan- 
tine  of  fourteen  guns,  an<l  sevi-ral  other  armed  ships  and  lirigautines. 
About  two  or  three  hundred  militia  on  the  opposite  shore,  at  the  siime 
time  kept  up  a  heavy  tire  of  mus<iuetry  upon  us:  notwitlistamlitig  wliirh, 
the  tire  of  the  artillery,  under  the  diicctiun  of  Cai)tain  Fage  and  Lieut. 
Hogevs,  took  such  eH'ect,  that  tiie  ships  were  soon  obliged  to  strike  their 
colours,  ami  the  militia  drove  from  the  opposite  shore.  Want  of  boats, 
and  the  wind  blowing  hard,  prevented  cur  cajituring  many  of  the  sea- 
men, who  took  to  their  boats,  and  escaped  on  shore;  but  not  without  first 
scuttling  and  setting  fire  to  some  of  their  ships,  which  cuuid  not  be 
saved. 

"Two  ships,  three  br'gantincs,  five  slcoi's,  nnd  two  schooners,  loaded 
with  tobacco,  conbige,  flour,  Arc,  fell  into  our  hands. 

"  Four  ships,  five  brigantines,  and  a  mimlMT  of  small  vessels  were  sunk 
i.nd  burnt.  Un  lioanl  the  whole  ileet  (none  of  which  escaped)  were  ta- 
ken and  destroyed  aliout  two  tlinusand  hogsheadi  of  tobacco,  iV:c.,  \'c.,  &c. , 
and  very  fortunately  we  had  not  a  man  killed  or  \N0unded  this  day:  but 
have  reason  to  believe  the  enemy  suffered  considerably.  About  five 
o'clock  P.  M.  we  were  joined  liy  Major-General  Phillips,  with  the  light 
infairry. 

"'jyth.  The  troops  remained  at  Osborn's,  waiting  for  boats  from  the 
fleet;  part  of  them  were  employed  in  securing  the  prizes,  and  carrying 
them  to  Osborn's  as  a  place  of  safety. 

"  'jntli.  'I'lie  boats  having  arrived,  ''  'rrops  were  put  in  motion,  ^hi- 
jor-General  Phillips  marehed  with  the  main  body;  at  the  san  o  time  I 
proceeded  up  the  river  with  a  detachment  in  boats,  and  met  him  between 
(  ary's  Mills  and  Warwick. 


i?1^^ 


34G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


"30th.  The  troops  niarchod  to  Manchester,  and  destroj-ed  twelve  hun- 
dred hogsheads  of  tobacco.  The  Marquis  de  La  Fayette  havinj;  arriveil 
with  liis  army  at  Richmond,  opposite  to  Manchester,  the  day  before,  and 
beinif  joined  by  the  niihtia,  (h'iven  from  Petersburyh  ami  Wiliianisljuro;!!, 
they  were  spectators  of  the  contlaj,'ration,  without  attempting:  to  molest  us. 
The  same  evening,'  wl'  returned  to  Wa.-wick,  wlun-e  we  destroyed  a  maga- 
zine of  ")0)  barrels  of  flour,  and  Colonel  Cary's  Hue  mills  were  destroyed 
in  burning  the  magazine  of  Hour.  Wo  also  burnt  several  warehouses, 
with  one  Imndred  and  fiffy  hogsheads  cf  tobacco,  a  large?  ship  and  abrig- 
antine  afloat,  and  three  vessels  on  the  stocks,  a  large  range  of  public  rope- 
walks  and  store  houses,  and  some  tan  and  bark  houses  full  of  hides  and 
bark. 

"  May  1st.  Marched  to  Usborn's  and  desjiatched  ourjprizes  and  boats 
dowft  the  river;  and  in  the  evening  nrarched  to  Bermuda  Hundreds,  op- 
posite City  Point. 

"  May  'Jnd.     Embarked  the  troops,  &c.,  &c. 

■'  May  -ird.     Fell  down  the  rivc'r  to  Westover. 

"  May  4th.     Proceeded  down  to  Tappahannock. 

"  nth  and  Gth.     Part  of  the  fleet  fell  down  to  Hog  Island. 

"  Tth.  Major-(  ieneral  Phillips  having  received  a  li'ttei  from  Lord  Coni- 
wallis,  orders  were  given  for  the  fleet  to  return  up  the  river  again.  We 
arrived  at  Brandon  about  ■">  o'clock,  and  most  of  the  troops,  cavalry,  iVc, 
were  huuled  this  evening,  though  it  blew  a  gale  of  wind. 

"  May  8th.  Remained  at  Rrandon;  Major-General  Phillips  being  very 
ill,  and  unable  to  travel  on  hor.seback,  a  post  chaise  was  procured  for 
him. 

"  -May  9th.  The  light  infantry  and  part  of  the  Queen's  Rangers,  in 
boats,  wore  ordered,  with  1,he  Formidable  and  Spitfire,  to  pr.~cecd  to  City 
Point,  and  land  there.  'J'he  rest  of  the  Army  was  put  in  motion  for  Pe- 
tersburgh,  where  they  arrived  late  in  the  night,  having  marched  near 
thirty  miles  this  day. 

"On  our  leaving  Bermuda  Hundreds,  and  going  down  the  river,  the 
Manpiis  de  LaFayette  with  his  army  moved  towards  W'illiamsliurgli, 
and  by  forced  marches  had  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  Long  Bridge, 
when  our  fleet  rctiu'ned  to  Brandon;  which  retrograde  motion  of  ours 
occasioned  him  to  nfturn  as  rapidly  by  forced  marches  to  Osljorn'.s,  where 
ho  arrived  the  8th,  and  was  preparing  to  cross  the  river  to  Peterslnirg. 
when  we  arrived  there,  which  was  so  unexpected,  that  we  surpriseil  and 
took  two  Majors  (one  of  them  Aid-de-Camp  to  Baron  Steuben,  the  other 
to  General  Smallwoul),  one  Captain,  and  three  lieutenants  of  dragoons; 
two  lieutenants  of  foot;  a  commissary  and  a  surgeon;  som;  of  these  gen- 
tlemen arrived  only  two  hours  before  us,  with  an  intention  of  collecting 
the  boats  for  the  MarL^uis  to  cross  liis  Army. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    IIIS   TREASOX. 


O  1  T 

o4 


/ 


"On  the  10th  the  Marfiuis  made  his  appearance  on  tlie  opposite  siilo  of 
the  river  with  a  strong'  escort,  and  havinji;  staid  some  time  to  reconnoitri' 
our  army,  returned  to  his  camp  at  Osljorn's,  and  we  are  tliis  day  informed 
he  is  marched  to  Richmond,  where  it  is  said  Wayne  with  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Hne  has  arrived;  this  is,  however,  uncertain;  but  he  is  certainly  ex- 
pected there. 

"  An  express  passed  through  this  place  the  day  before  our  arrival  here- 
who  left  Halifax  on  the  7th,  and  iiifdrmed  that  the  advance  of  Lord  Corn- 
wallis's  army  arrived  there  that  mortiint^-;  this  report  we  have  Irom  sev- 
eral quarters,  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe  it  is  true.  Several  ex|iresse3 
have  been  sent  to  his  Lordship,  informing  him  of  our  being  here  ready  to 
co-operate  with  his  Lonlship.  We  are  in  anxious  expectation  of  having 
particular  intelligence  from  him  every  minute. 

"  As  soon  as  it  is  reducCLl  to  a  certainty  that  Lord  Cornwallis  has  crossed 
the  Roanoke,  and  is  on  his  march  fur  this  place,  the  army  will  advance 
one  or  two  days'  march  from  hence  to  meet  his  Lordship,  anil  carry  a  sup- 
ply of  provisions  for  his  army. 

"  A  consideraljlenumber  of  magazines  of  flour  and  bread  have  fallen  into 
our  hands  near  this  place,  and  the  country  abounds  witii  cattle. 

"  i\Iajor-General  I'hillips  is  so  weak  and  low  that  it  will  be  some  consid- 
erable time  before  he  can  go  through  the  fatigue  of  business.  In  this 
critical  situation  I  am  happy  to  have  the  assistance  of  so  many  good  and 
experienced  othcers  with  me  conananding  corps,  if  joined  by  Cornwal- 
lis, or  the  reinforcement  said  to  be  coming  from  ^  ew  York,  we  shall  be 
in  force  to  operate  as  we  please  in  Virginia  or  JLiryland. 

"  1  have  the  honor  to  be,  <!tc., 
"(Signed,)  B.  Aknomi." 

General  Phillips  was  one  of  the  officers  captured  with 
Burgojne  at  Saratoga,  and  died  very  soon  after  tlie  thite  of 
Arnold's  re]iort. 

It  was  during  this  expedition  that  General  Arnold 
inquired  of  a  caj)tain  of  the  ]iatriot  ai'iny  wlio  had  l)een 
taken  prisoner:  "  What  would  he  nij  fate,  if  /  siiould  he 
taken  ])risoner? "' 

"They  will  cut  off/'  re])lied  theca[»tain,  "  that  shortened 
leg  of  yours  wounded  at  (^uehec  and  at  Saratoga,  and  hurv 
it  with  all  the  honors  of  war,  and  ♦^henhang  tlie  rest  of  voii 
on  a  gil»l)et." 

"While  iu  Virginia  (iovernor  Jefferson   offered  a  reward 


348 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


of  5,000  guineas  to  any  one  who  would  capture  Arnold. 
In  June,  1781,  lie  returned  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where 
Mrs.  Arnold  liad  remained  during  his  absence,  and  where, 
on  the  27tli  of  August,  she  gave  birth  to  their  second  son, 
named  James  l{(jbertson,  and  who  lived  to  attain  the  rank 
of  ].ieutenant-(ieneral  in  theUritish  army,  ami  to  serve  as 
military  aid  of  the  Kin^-..  Arnold's  return  to  Xew  York 
removed  him  from  the  impending  conllict  between  AV'ash- 
ingMn  and  Cornwallis. 

Jiarly  in  Se])tember,  n(.)twithstan(ling  the  delicate  condi- 
tion of  his  wite,  ainong  strangers  and  with  an  infant  but  a 
few  days  old,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  her,  and  lead  an 
e.\])edition  against  his  native  State.  At  New  London,  in 
Connecticut,  M'as  de])osited  a  large  quantity  of  ]iublic  stores, 
feebly  defended  by  Forts  Trumbull  and  Griswold.  Arnold 
was  selected  to  command  because  of  his  familiarity  with  the 
localities,  but  it  was  a  severe  trial  of  his  iidelity  to  his  new 
friends,  to  send  him  at  such  a  time  a^  the  head  of  this  exjie- 
dition.  The  massacre,  so-called,  at  Fort  Griswold,  was  one 
of  the  nu>st  tragic  incidents  of  the  war,  and  is  a  sad  chapter 
of  this  gloomy  period  in  Arnold's  history. 

To  what  extent  he  was  res]ions!ble  for  the  burning  of  the 
town,  and  the  destruction  of  life  in  the  Fort,  is  a  contro- 
verted question.  That  he  did  not  prevent  these  acts  is  at 
least  clear,  and  he  certainly  ought,  if  possible,  to  have  taken 
such  measures  as  would  have  prevented  them. 

I  give  his  own  re])ort,  and  the  testitnony  in  his  favor  of 
the  British  Comnuinder,  and  then  the  statement  of  the  trans- 
action b}'  General  Heath,  of  the  American  army. ' 

"Sound,  off  Plumb  Ist.and,  8opt.  3,  178L 
"  Sir:  T  have  the  honor  to  inform  your  Excelloncy  that  the  transports  witli 
the  detachment  of  troops  under  my  orders,  anchored  on  the  Long-  Island 
shore,  on  the  5th  instant,  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  ahout  ten  leagues  from 


1.    C'Diiy  of  a  li'ttor  fiom  I'lrittiiilitT  riciicrnl  Arnold  to  his  Excollency,  the  Com- 
maiiikT  iiiCliief.  extracted  I'roiu.  '  Thu  Loudon  Cltionkk,'  Nov.  u-ti,  17al,  p.  i^^'. 


1" 


HIS    rATRIOTIS^I    AND    HIS    TIIEASON. 


349 


NowLnnclon;  and  linviiiij  madt.' somo  nocos.^ary  arranj^omcts,  woij,';;o!l 
anchrr  at  7  o'clocic  1'.  M..  and  stood  for  New  London  with  a  fair  wind. 
At  one  o'clock  tho  next  niorninjr,  wo  arrived  otf  tlio  harbour,  wiion  tiio 
wind  suddenly  shifted  to  the  northward,  and  it  was  nine  o'clock  boforo 
the  transports  could  beat  in.  At  ten  o'clock,  tho  trool>^  in  two  divisions, 
and  in  four  deliarkations,  were  landed:  one  on  each  side  the  harbour, 
about  three  miles  trom  New  London;  that  on  th(>  (iroton  side,  consisting 
of  the  4<)th  and  o4f]i  retrinients,  and  the  ;'rd  battalion  of  New  .Jersey 
Volunteers,  with  a  di'tacluuent  of  Yafjers  and  artillery,  were  under  tho 
command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Eyre.  The  divisioa  on  the  New  London  side 
consisted  of  the  Il'^th  refjfiinent,  the  Loyal  Americans,  the  American 
Lcffion,  Refugees,  and  a  detachment  of  sixty  Yajarors,  who  were  iuunedi- 
ately  on  landinjr  put  in  motion:  and  at  eleven  o'clock,  b(?in(,'  within  half 
a  mile  of  Fort  Trumbull,  which  coumiands  New  Ijondon  harliour,  I  de- 
tached Captain  Millet  with  four  companies  of  the  ;!^th  re<,'iuient  to  atta<>k 
the  fort,  who  was  joineil  on  his  march  by  Captain  Frink  with  one  com- 
pany of  the  American  Legion.  At  the  same  time  I  advanced  with  thr 
remainder  of  the  division,  west  of  Fort  Trumbull,  on  the  road  to  tln' 
town,  to  attack  a  redoubt  which  had  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  ujjon  us  for  some 
time,  but  which  th?  enemy  evacuated  upon  our  approach.  In  this  work  we 
found  six  pieces  of  cannou  mounted,  and  two  dismounted:  soon  after  I 
had  the  pleasure  to  see  Captain  Millet  march  into  Fort  Trumbull  under 
a  shower  of  prape  shot  fiom  a  number  of  cannon,  which  the  enemy  had 
turned  upon  hmi;  and  1  hav(^  the  pleasure  to  inform  your  l'L\(!(>llen:y.  that, 
l)y  the  sudden  attack  and  determined  bravery  of  the  troops,  the  fort  was 
earned  with  the  loss  of  only  four  or  five  men  killed  and  wounded.  Cap- 
tain Milht  had  orders  to  leave  one  com[)any  in  Fort  'I'rumbull,  to  d"t.i.  •'. 
one  to  the  redoubt  we  had  taken,  and  to  join  me  with  the  othertwo  com- 
panies. No  time  on  my  jjart  was  lost  in  gaining  the  town  of  New  Lon- 
don. We  were  opposed  by  a  small  body  of  the  enemy  with  one  held 
piece,  which  being  iron,  was  spiked  and  left. 

"  As  soon  as  the  enemy  were  alarmed  in  tho  morning,  wo  could  perceive 
they  were  busily  employed  in  bending  sails,  and  enileavouring  to  get  their 
l)rivateers  and  other  ships  at  Norwich  river,  out  of  our  roach;  but  the 
wind  being  small,  and  the  tide  against  them,  they  were  obliged  to  anchor 
again.  From  inforniiition  I  received  before  and  after  my  landing,  I  had 
reason  to  lielieve  that  Fort  (iriswold,  on  (iroton  side,  was  very  incom- 
plete; and  I  was  assured  (by  friends  to  governmi'ut)  after  my  lauding, 
that  there  were  only  twenty  t>r  tliirty  men  in  tho  fort,  tho  inhabitants  in 
general  being  on  board  their  sliips,  and  busy  in  saving  their  property. 
Un  taking  possession  of  Fort  Trumbull,  I  found  the  enemy's  ships  would 
escape,  unless  we  could  possess  ourselves  of  Fort  Griswold;  I  ther.'fore 


350 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    AFtNOLD. 


dispatchoil  an  Officer  to  Lieiitenat  Colonel  Eyi*c,  with  the  intelligence  I 
had  roci'ivetl,  and  retniosted  him  to  niaki'  iin  attack  upon  the  fort  as  soon 
as  possible;  at  which  time  I  expected  the  howitzer  was  up,  and  would 
have  been  made  use  of. 

"  On  my  gaininj^  a  heipht  of  fjround  in  the  rear  of  New  London,  from 
which  I  had  ajjood  prospect  of  Fortdriswold,  I  found  it  much  more  fo"- 
niidable  than  I  expected,  or  than  I  had  formed  an  idea  of  from  tho  infor- 
mation I  bad  before  received;  1  observed  at  the  sametim",  tiiat  the  men 
who  had  escaped  from  Fort  Trumbull  had  crossed  in  boats  and  thrown 
themselves  into  Fort  (iris wold,  and  a  favoral>le  wind  sprin<,Mn,i,'  up  about 
this  time,  the  enemy's  ships  were  escapinjj  up  the  river,  notwitlistandinsr 
the  fire  froui  Fort  Trumbull,  and  a  six  ]iounder  which  I  had  with  me.  I 
immediately  dispatched  a  boat  with  an  officer  to  Lieut.  Col.  Kyre,  to 
countermand  my  first  orders  to  attack  the  fort,  but  the  officer  arrived  a 
few  minutes  too  late. 

"  Lieutenant  Col.  Eyre  had  sent  Captain  Beckwith  with  a  flag  to  de- 
mand a  surrender  of  the  fort,  which  was  peremptorily  refused,  and  the 
attack  had  commenced.  After  a  most  obstinate  defense  of  near  forty 
minutes,  the  fort  was  carried  by  the  superior  bravery  and  perseverance  of 
the  assailants.  The  attack  was  judicious  and  spirited,  and  reflects  the 
highest  honor  on  the  officers  and  troops  engaged,  who  seemed  to  vie  with 
each  other  in  being  first  in  danger.  The  troops  approached  on  three 
sides  of  the  work,  which  was  a  square  with  flanks,  made  a  lodgement  in 
the  ditch,  and  under  a  hcMivy  fire,  which  they  kept  up  on  the  works, 
effected  a  second  lodgment  on  tho  friezing,  which  was  attended  with 
great  difficulty,  as  only  a  few  pickets  could  be  forced  out  or  broken  in  a 
place,  and  was  so  high  that  the  soldiers  could  ncl.  nscend  without  assist- 
ing each  other.  TT(nv  the  coolness  and  braverj  of  the  troops  were  very 
conspicuous — as  the  first  who  ascended  the  friez'' were  obliged  to  silence 
a  nine-pounder,  which  infdaded  the  place  on  which  they  stood,  until  a 
sufficient  body  had  collfcted  to  enter  the  works,  which  was  done 
with  fixed  bayonets  through  the  embrazuros,  whore  they  were  opposed 
with  great  obstinacy  by  the  garrison  with  'ong  spears.  On  this  occasion 
I  have  to  i-egret  the  loss  of  ]\Iajor  Montgomery,  who  was  killed  by  a  spear 
in  entering  the  enemy's  works;  also  of  Knsign  Whillock,  of  tho  40th 
regiment,  who  was  killixl  in  the  attack.  Three  other  officers  of  the  same 
regiment  wei-e  wounded.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eyre  an<l  three  other  offi- 
c(n-s  of  the  54th  regiment  were  also  wounded,  but  I  have  the  satisfaction 
to  inform  your  Excellency  that  they  are  all  in  a  fair  way  of  recovery. 

"  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eyre,  who  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  having 
received  hi-^  wound  near  the  works,  and  ^lajor  ^I(int<roniery  being  killed 
innnediiitely  after,  the  comnumd  devolved  upon  Major  Bromfield,  whose 
behaviour  on  this  occasion  does  him  great  honour. 


,<^i«.^ 


Ills    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


'.]r>i 


"  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bnskirk,  with  tlie  Now  Jersey  Volunteers  and 
artillery,  beinj.'  the  second  debarkation,  came  up  soon  after  the  work  was 
carried,  haviny  been  retarded  by  the  rouyhness  of  the  country.  I  am 
much  obliged  to  this  gentleman  for  his  e.\ertions,  aIthou_i,'h  the  Artillery 
did  not  arrive  in  time. 

"  I  have  enclosed  a  return  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  by  which  your 
Excellency  will  observe  that  our  loss,  thoufjh  very  considerable,  is  very 
short  of  the  enemy's,  who  lost  most  of  their  otKcers,  amonj,'  wliom  was 
their  commander,  Col.  Ledyard.  Eitrhty-five  men  were  found  dead  in 
Fort  firiswolil,  and  TiO  wounded,  most  of  them  mortally:  their  loss  on 
the  opposite  side  must  have  been  considerable,  but  cannot  lie  ascertained. 
I  believe  we  have  about  70  pi-isoners,  besides  the  wounded,  who  were  left 
paroled. 

"  Ten  or  twelve  of  the  enemy's  shi])S  were  burned;  amonj;  them  we;e 
three  or  four  armed  vessels,  and  one  loaded  with  naval  stores;  an  immense 
quantity  of  European  and  West  India  goods  were  found  in  the  stores; 
amon^'  the  former,  the  cargo  of  the  Hannah,  Captain  Watson,  from  Lon- 
don, lately  captur.  d  by  the  enemy:  The  whole  of  which  was  burnt  with  the 
stores,  which  proved  to  contain  a  large  rpiantity  of  powder,  unknown  to 
us;  the  explosion  of  the  jiowder,  and  diangi;  of  winil,  soon  after  th" 
stores  were  tired,  comnnmicated  the  Hames  to  a  jtart  of  the  town,  which 
was,  notwithstanding  every  effort  to  prevent  it.  unfortunately  destroyed. 

"  I'jtwards  of  .')0  i)ieces  of  iron  canncm  were  destroyed  in  tiie  ditferent 
works  (exclusive  of  the  guns  of  the  ships),  a  particular  return  of  wiiich 
I  cannot  do  myself  the  honor  to  transmit  to  your  Excellency  at  this 
time. 

*'  A  very  considerable  magazine  of  powder,  and  l)arracks  to  contain  •'JOU 
men  were  found  in  Fort  Oriswold,  whi:-h  ("aptain  Lemoine,  of  the  Royal 
A  rtillery,  had  my  positive  directions  to  destroy.  An  attempt  was  made  by 
him,  but  unfortunately  failed.  He  had  my  orders  to  make  a  second 
attempt;  the  reasons  why  it  was  not  dune,  Captain  Lemoine  will  have  the 
honour  to  explain  to  your  Excellency. 

"  I  should  be  wanting  in  justice  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  navy  did  I  omit 
to  acknowledge  that  upon  this  expedition  I  have  received  every  possible 
aid  from  them;  Captain  Beasley  has  made  every  exertion  to  assist  our 
operations,  and  not  only  gave  up  his  cabin  to  the  sick  and  woundi'd  offi- 
cers, but  furnished  them  with  every  assistance  and  refreshm  at  that  his 
ship  afforded. 

"  Lord  Dalrymple  will  have  the  honour  to  deliver  niy  tlispatches.  1 
beg  leave  to  refer  your  Excellency  to  his  Lordship  for  the  jiarticulars  of 
our  operations  on  the  New  London  side.  I  feel  myself  under  great  obli- 
gations to  him  for  his  exertions  upon  the  occasion. 


I 

■ 


352 


LIFE    OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


"Captain  Tockwith,  wlio  was  oxtreniply  serviceable  to  mo,  returns  witii 
his  Lordsliip.  his  spirited  conduct  in  the  a,  tack  of  FortGriswold,  does 
liim  prcat  honor,  ljein<,'  one  of  the  first  o!lii;ers  who  entered  the  works. 
1  hi'n  leave  to  refer  your  Kxeellency  to  hiui  for  tlie  particulars  of  our  ope- 
rations on  that  side,  and  to  t^ay  I  have  the  highest  opinion  of  his  abilities 
as  an  offieer. 

"  I  am  fjreiitly  indi'bted  to  Captain  Stapleton  (who  aeted  as  Major  of 
Urifjadi'*,  for  his  spirited  conduct  and  assistance:  in  particular  on  the  at- 
tack upon  Fort  'J'nuiilMill,  and  his  endeavours  to  jirevent  jilunderiny 
(when  the  pu'.Jic  stores  were  burnt),  and  the  destruction  of  private  build- 
ings. 

"  The  officers  and  troops  in  general  behaved  with  th)  f,'rL'atost  intre- 
l)idity  and  firmness. 

"  1  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c., 

"B.  Arnold." 

It  seems  quite  clear — and  indeed  sueli  is  the  statement 
of  General  Heath — that  Arnold  did  not  cross  the  river,  and 
that  during  the  attack  upon  Fort  (4ris\vold  he  was  on  the 
opposite  side;  and  this  being  true,  he  must  be  ac(juitted  of 
any  direct  persoTial  responsil)ility  for  what  occurred  at  the 
Fort.  His  conduct  in  leading  this  exjiedition  against  his 
native  State  is  bad  enough,  M'ithout  darkening  the  picture 
with  the  cruelties  which  occurred^  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  stream. 

General  Clinton,  in  general  orders  expresses  his  obliga- 
tions to  Geuei'al  Arnold  "for  his  very  spirited  conduct,"' 
and  assures  him  that  he  is  convinced  that  "he"  (General 
Arnold)  "  took  every  precaution  in  his})ower  to  prevent  the 
destruction  of  the  Town,  which  is  a  misfortune  Avhich  gives 
him  much  concern.'" 

1.    From  London  Ch'onidc,  .Ym'.  3-C,  1781,  p.  438,  To/.  L. 

"Geneu.vi.  OitDFUs,  IlEAD-QrAnTrns,) 
"  Ni  W  YoiiK,  ^cllt.  17.     J 

"  Bripmlier  General  Arnold  liavinpr  reported  to  the  Comnuindor-in-Cliief  tlie  suc- 
cess of  the  cxiicdition  nnder  liis  direction  n?;ain.st  Xcw  I.ondnn.  on  the  fitl)  in.stant, 
Ills  E.'cccllency  lias  the  iiloasure  of  .signityins  to  the  army  the  liiu'li  sense  lie  enter- 
tains of  the  very  distinguished  merit  of  tlic  Corps  eniiiloyed  upon  tliat  service;  Init 
wliilc  he  draws  tlie  greatest  satisfaction  from  the  ardour  of  the  troops,  wliich  ena- 
bled thee-  'o  carry  by  assault  a  work  of  such  strengtli  as  Tort  Or'swold  is  rciire- 
semed  to  be,  be  cannot  but  lament,  with  the  deepest  concern,  the  heavy  lass  iu  ofll- 


HIS    rATRlOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


OOO 


A.  the  time  of  this  cx]>e(liti(»ii,  General  Ileatli  was  in 
coniiuiiiul  of  a  ])art  of  tlie  Anierlcaii  iiriny  in  tlie  State  of 
New  ^'ork,  and  in  his  Diary  and  Afenioirs,  nnder  date  of 
Sept.  K),  1781,  after  .i;ivini^  an  aeeonnt  of  the  e.\])edition 
ajjjainst  Xew  London,  he  say.s: 

"  In  (lovr.  Tniuibiiirs  letter,  tlio  Kncmy  were  charyoil  witli  behavinjr 
ia  a  wanton  anil  barbarous  manner,  and  tliat  between  seventy  and  eighty 
wer.'  kilji'd,  tiin-e  only  before  tin'  Kneniy  entered  the  Fort  and  the 
garrison  had  submitted;  that  on  Co'onel  Iiedyiird"s  delivorinp  his  sword, 
reversed,  to  the  conmiandinj,'  officer,  who  entt.'red  the  fort,  the  officer  im- 
mediately iilunyed  it  in  the  Colonel's  body,  (m  which  several  soldii  rs 
l>ayoneted  him.  It  is  also  asserted,  that  upon  the  tore^'oinj,'  takiiij/  place, 
an  American  officer  who  stood  near  to  Colonel  Ledyanl,  instantly  stabiu'd 
the  British  officer  who  had  stabbed  the  Colonel,  on  whicii  the  British  in- 
discriminately baj'oneted  a  yreat  number  of  Americans. 

"This  expedition  was  commanded  bv  Arnold.  The  British  loss  was  very 
considerable  in  killed  and  wounded;  amonj^  the  former  was  Major  vont- 
{^■omcry.  Arnohl  hliHscIf  roiitiinicd  on  the  Xiir  LoikIoii  siilr,  and  while 
his  troops  were  pluiiderinf,'  and  burnin":,  was  said  to  have  bei'n  at  a  house 
where  lie  was  treated  very  politely;  that  while  he  was  sitting  with  the 
gentleman  regaling  himself,  the  latter  observed  that  he  hojied  iiis  bouse 
and  property  would  be  safe;  he  was  answered  that  while  he  (Arnold) 
was  there,  it  would  not  be  touched;  but  the  house,  except  the  room  in 
which  they  were,  wfis  soon  plundered,  and  found  to  be  on  fire.  During 
the  plunder  of  the  town,  the  British  (a.s  is  always  the  case  in  a  i)lunder), 
were  in  gieat  confusion,  setting  their  arms  against  trees  and  fences,  while 
they  were  collecting  and  carrying  off  their  plunder;  in  this  situation 
thoy  might  have  been  easily  defeated;  nor  would  it  have  been  thi^  first 
time  an  army  in  possession  of  victory,  lost  it  in  this  way:  hence  by  the 
articles  of  wax,  "  If  any  officer  or  soldier  shall  leave  his  post  or  colors,  to 
go  in  search  of  plunder,  he  is  liable  to  suffer  death  for  the  offence.'' 

"It  is  not  meant  to  exculpatti  or  to  aggravate  the  conduct  of  the 

cers  nnd  men  sustained  by  the  •10th  and  .">-lth  Regiments,  wIki  had  tlio  Imnor  of  tlint 
iittnck  ;  nnd  as  no  words  can  do  i)roiH'r  justice  to  the  disc'ii>liiie  and  spirit  wliieh 
tliey  sliowed  on  that  oeeasion,  his  Kxeelluiicy  c;ui  only  re(iuest  they  will  accept  Ids 
thanks,  witli  assurances  that  lie  will  not  fail  to  represent  tlieir  conduct  to  their  sov- 
ereign in  the  most  honorable  terms. 

'•  The  ('(imniaiider-inrhief  begs  leave  to  express  his  obligations  to  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral .\rnold,  for  his  very  spirited  conduct  on  the  occasion  ;  and  he  assures  that  gen- 
t  nd  (itlicer  that  he  is  convince(\  he  took  every  itrecaution  in  his  jwwer  to  prevent 
the  destruction  of  the  town,  which  is  a  misfortune  that  gives  him  uuicli  coa- 
ceru.  *  *  *" 
2-3 


I 


III 


Do'l 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


i^noniy  on  this  occaHion — but  two  tliinps  are  to  be  rernembered;  first,  ill  -t 
in  almost  all  cases  tlio  slaujfhtor  does  but  begin  when  iho  vanquishtd 
j;ivo  way;  and  it  has  been  said,  that  if  this  was  uiily  considered,  troops 
would  never  turn  their  backs,  if  it  were  possible  to  face  their  enemy;  sec- 
ondly, in  all  attacks  by  assault,  the  assailants,  between  the  feelings  of  dan- 
ger on  the  one  hand,  and  resolution  to  o'.t"or><0  it  on  the  other,  havo 
their  minds  worked  up  almost  to  a  point  of  fury  and  madness,  which  those 
who  are  assailed,  from  a  confidence  in  their  works,  do  not  feel;  and  that 
consequently  when  a  place  is  carried,  and  the  assailed  submit,  the  assail- 
ants cannot  instantaneously  curb  their  fury  to  reason,  and  in  this  interval, 
many  are  slain  in  a  way  which  a  cool  bystander  would  call  wanton  and 
barbarous,  and  even  the  perpetrators  themselves,  when  their  rage  subsi- 
ded, would  condemn;  but  irhile  the  hi( man  passions  remain  as  they  now 
are,  there  is  scarcely  a  remedy," 

It  is  said  that  durin<^  the  attack  Arnohl  liad  a  very  nar- 
row esca])e  from  deatli  hy  tlie  hands  of  a  Mrs,  Ilinman,  a 
resident  of  New  London.  She  had  known  Arnold  in  earlier 
years,  he  having  often  l)een  the  i^uest  of  her  hnshand.  See- 
ing hiin  riding  up  the  street,  she  addressed  him,  and  he 
immediately  recognized  her,  and  offered  her  his  protection. 
He  told  her  to  point  out  her  property,  and  lie  would  take 
care  that  it  should  not  be  injured.  She  pointed  out  not 
only  her  own,  hut  tlie  houses  of  several  of  her  friends,  as 
her  own,  and  all  were  spared. 

At  length,  seeing  the  cruel  destruction  going  on  around 
her,  the  attack  upon  and  capture  of  Fort  Grriswold,  she  be- 
came so  incensed  against  Arnold  that  she  seized  a  gun,  and 
aiming  it  at  him  as  he  sat  on  his  horse  in  front  of  the  house, 
she  pulled  the  trigger,  l)ut  the  piece  missed  lire,  and  the 
traitor  escaped.  The  Lord  did  not  on  that  day  deliver  /Sis- 
era  into  the  hands  of  this  modern  Jael.^ 

1.    :Svw  York  Daily  Times,  January,  1870. 


CHAPTER    XX. 


k  )\ 


ARNOLD  AT  THE  COURT  OF  GEORGE  THE  III. 

"  On  forelRti  shores  a  man  exiled 
Disowned,  deserted,  and  distressed." 

Arnold's  Detarture  with  Lord  Corxwallis  for  Enoi.and-His  Kecf.ption  by 
THE  Kino  and  Cabinet— His  Paper  on  a  Re-union  Between  the  Colonies 
AND  THE  Crown— General  and  Muh.  Arnold  at  Andre's  Moniment  in  West- 
minster Abbey. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1781,  Lord  Cornwallis,  with  liis 
entire  army  of  near  10,000  men,  surrendered  to  General 
Wasliington.  "When  intelligence  of  this  event  reached  the 
British  Cabinet,  the  firmness  of  Lord  North,  the  Minister, 
gave  way,  and  he  exclaimed,  "  All  is  lost !"  '  Tiiis  success 
caused  most  men  to  conclude  that  the  subjugation  .he 
Colonies  was  impossible,  and  led  to  the  acknowledgment  of 
the  independence  of  our  country. 

In  the  December  following,  Arnold,  with  his  family, 
sailed  for  England.  Li  the  expeditions  which  he  com- 
manded against  Vrginia  and  into  Connecticut,  he  had  accom- 
plished all  that  was  expected  of  him,  had  displayed  energy 
and  executive  ability,  had  received  the  thanks  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  but  no  opportunity'  had  occurred  for  the  exhibition 
of  those  brilliant  exploits  and  feats  of  personal  heroism,  for 
which  his  career  in  the  patriot  army  had  been  so  distin- 
guished.    Independently  of  the  reproach  brought  upon  him 


'r 


1.   WraxaU'8  Memoirs. 


(355) 


350 


LUK   OF    BENEDICT    AllNOLD. 


by  tlio  affiiir  at  New  London, lie  liiid  not  added  anytliinj^  to 
liis  military  rp]>iitation.  Inderd,  he  was  so  heavily  handi- 
cappcil  while  in  the  service  of  the  kini,^  as  to  make  it  very 
dilliciilt  tor  liim  to  achieve  anythin*^  i^reat.  It  is  not  un- 
likely some  distrust  nuiy  have  been  felt  towards  him  in 
some  quarters  amon<^  his  new  friends,  thoui^h  I  discover  no 
indication  of  it  in  the  trcatnu^it  of  him  by  the  British 
commander.  Even  if  there  liad  been  no  blot  upon  his  rec- 
ord as  an  ofHeer,  as  a  colonist  he  would  have  labored  under 
irrcat  disadvantajjo. 

Besides,  it  was  well  known  at  the  British  IIead(iuarters, 
that  he  was  constantly  exposed  to  daui^ers  lar  <;reater  and 
of  a  different  character  from  those  of  any  other  otHcer.  Hun- 
dreds of  riflemen  and  sharp-shooters  were  on  the  watch  to 
take  his  life.  Heavy  rewards  for  his  capture,  for  his  abduc- 
tion had  been  offered,  and  if  taken  his  execution  would  have 
l)een  summary.  He  Avas  therefore  sent  to  Kniijland  to  con- 
fer with  the  ^NFinisters  upon  the  conduct  of  the  war:  and  he 
prepared  to  leave  with  little  or  no  probnl)ility  of  ever  return- 
ing^. He  was  now  to  become  an  exile  from  his  native  land, 
])robably  forever. 

How  ]^ainful  this  exile,  with  what  shattered  hopes,  nny, 
almost  despair,  he  left  his  home,  the  land  of  his  glory,  and 
(»f  his  disgrace,  it  is  difficult  to  conceive.  One  must  remem- 
ber his  ambition,  his  passionate  nature;  how  he  had  strug- 
gled for  fame ;  how,  when  ill-treated,  and  deeply  injured,  car- 
ried away  by  his  passions,  he  had  listened  to  ]]ritish  emis- 
saries, and  viehling  to  their  specious  arguments  and  persua- 
sions, had  at  last  staked  everything  on  the  success  of  his 
treason,  to  appreciate  the  l)itter  feelings  of  self-reproach  with 
which  he  sailed  away  from  his  home.  It  has  been  said,  that 
the  hardships  he  had  endured  and  his  exposure  an<l  wounds 
in  l)attle,  were  the  result,  not  of  patriotism,  but  of  ambition 
only;  but  "Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this:  that  a  man 


HiMEaSBiiMtanj  iuimiwUHWh 


iiiliiiilMB 


Ills   PATRIOTISM   AND   IIIS   TREASON. 


3.37 


lay  (IdWii  liis  life  for  liis  friend; "  and  it  would  be  difficult  to 
find  str(»n<ijor  evidence  of  love  of  country  than  he  had  exhib- 
ited uj)  to  the  time  of  his  treason. 

Yet  few,  if  any,  among  those  ho  left  behind  would  now 
remember, 

•'  That  tills  poor  vicllm  of  soU'-wlU 
Patriot  no  more,  had  once  been  patriot  all." 

It  was  impossible  for  him  not  to  recall  the  day,  when 
bronijlit  home  from  i5aratu«fa,  still  weak  and  a  cripple  from 
unhealed  wounds  so  honorably  received,  his  native  State 
went  out  to  meet,  welcome  and  honor  him.  He  could  not 
fail  to  remember  when,  returning;  to  Phihidel])hia  after  hav- 
iniif,  by  a  heroism  never  surpassed,  driven  Tryon  back  to  his 
ships,  Con<;ress  replaced  the  horse  riddled  with  bullets  un- 
der him,  M'ith  another  comi)letely  caparisoned,  and  j^ave  him 
the  ]iromotion  so  louij^  and  so  unjustly  withheld.  Kor  did 
he  fail  to  recall  how  often  he  had  l»een  honored  by  AVashin*^- 
ton,  irnd  that  the  Commander-in-Chief  had  offered  him  the 
second  place  in  his  own  army,  and  had  he  been  true  to  that 
chief,  it  might  have  been  into  his  hands  that  the  sword  of 
Lord  Cornwallis  would  have  been  surrendered.  jMusitii? 
upon  all  these  recollections  and  all  his  old  campaigns,  from 
Ticonderoga  and  the  AVilderness  of  Maine  to  the  assault 
upon  Quebec  and  the  long  Canadian  winter,  when  "  in  the 
path  of  duty"  lie  "knew  no  fear,"  he  ])aced  the  deck  of  the 
packet  and  saw  his  native  land  disappear  forever  in  the  dis- 
tance. He  might  no\v  be  com])ared  to  a  melancholy  jlot- 
som,  thrown  up  by  the  waves  of  a  stormy  sea,  the  wreck  of 
a  once  noble  career,  now  tho  wretched  relic  of  an  abortive 
and  guilty  enterprise. 

He  had  staked  all — and  lost  all.  Execrated  and  cursed 
by  his  own  countrymen  and  their  army,  and  regarded  coldly 
by  the  other  side,  he  must  have  felt  uncertain  of  his  receji- 
tion  by  the  government  to  which  he  was  fleeing.     He  could 


I 


.1 
I'll 


*^'4 


358 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Ms"  - 


m 


m 


not  fail  to  speculate  on  what  nii<^ht  have  been  liis  ])osition, 
as  the  brilliant  second  of  AVashini>'ton,  in  estahlishino-  tlic 
independence  of  his  country.  lie  was  now  going  empty- 
handed  of  success,  to  meet  strangers,  without  a  country  or 
a  home.  Truly,  his  treason  was  not  only  a  crime,  hut  a  sad 
and  terrible  blunder.  ]S\)  wonder  that  he  struffirled  a«rainst 
(les]iiiir! 

Unt  his  devoted  wife,  in  this  hour  of  deep  de})re6sion  was 
ever  at  his  side  to  soothe  and  sustain  him.  To  her  Arnold 
was  still  a  hero.  It  was  hard  for  her  to  leave  father,  family, 
home  and  friends,  but  with  all  of  woman's  devotion,  she 
clung  to  her  husband,  and  made  his  life  endurable. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  gave  to  Arnold  letters  to  Lord  George 
Germain  and  others,  bearing  generous  testimony  "  to  his 
spirited  and  meritorious  conduct  since  he  had  joined  the 
British  army,"  and  "earnestly  commending  him  to  his 
Lordship's  countenance  and  protection." 

Lord  Cornwallis  was  a  fellow  passenger  with  Arnold  and 
his  family  across  the  ocean  to  England.  His  lordship,  after 
his  surrender  at  Yorktown,  had  been  exchanged  for  Henry 
Laurens,  late  president  of  Congress,  who  had  been  captured 
at  sea,  and  contined  in  the  Tower  of  London.  The  kindness 
of  C'ornwallis  towards  the  family  of  Arnold,  manifested  on 
various  occasions,  and  es}>ecially  some  years  afterwards,  in 
aiding  to  ])lace  his  sons  at  the  military  school,  may  be  at- 
tributed, in  part  at  least,  to  the  friendly  relations  created 
by  ^his  voyage  together.'  In  the  |)rotracted  i)assage  across 
the  Atlantic,  then  made  by  sail,  these  two  gentlemen  had 
abundant  time  to  discuss  the  probabilities  of  future  success 
of  the  war.  Cornwallis  had  nearly  given  up  all  ho])e,  while 
Arnold  professed  to  be  still  sanguine. 

"  Arnold,"  it  is  said  in  a  private  letter  from  a  gentlenum 


^(4 


1.    Coniwallis  (iml  Arnold  "wore  brother  passengers  to  Englnnd."    Drake's  His- 
toric Fields  and  Mansions  of  Middlesex,  p.  207. 


Ills    rATRIOTISM    AM)    IIlS    TREASON. 


ooi) 


0  liis 

1  tlie 
'  his 


who  was 'ill  Europe  when  lie  uiTivcd  there,  aiul  wliose  ac- 
(Hiaiiitance  in  diploinatie  circles  ])hice(l  him  in  a  position  to 
l»e  well  informed,  ''was  received  with  open  arms  by  the 
King^,  caressed  by  the  ministers,  and  all  imat^inable  atten- 
tion shown  him  by  all  people  on  that  side  of  the  (piesti(.)n."  ' 

Leanin^^on  the  arm  of  Sir  Guy  Carletun,  he  was  presented 
at  Court  by  Sir  Walter  Stirlin'i^.'' 

He  was  nnudi  consulte<l  by  Lord  Germain  and  the  Cab- 
inet, and  rci^arded  as  a  very  sensible  in-in,  familiar  with 
American  alfairs.  ''  He  had  many  private  conferences  with 
the  Kiiii;:,  and  was  seen  walkin*^  with  the  I'rince  of  Wales 
and  the  Kiiiij^'s  brother  in  the  ])ublic  gardens."  ' 

It  must  have  been  a  suggestive  spectacle  to  have  seen 
General  Arnold  in  the  parks  of  l^ondon,  leaning  on  the  arm 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  seeking  his  aid  nnder  a  lameness 
arising  from  wounds  received  in  fighting  against  the  crown. 

From  the  letter  above  (pioted  and  other  sources,  1  learn 
that  the  King,  wh(»  had  a  ])assionate  desire  to  retain  the  Col- 
onies, regarded  him  as  a  mai.'  wIkjsc  opinions  were  entitled 
to  irreat  consideration.  All  of  Ariiold's  future  after  his 
treason,  for  obvious  reasons,  depended  upon  a  reconciliation 
between  the  Colonies  and  the  Crown,  and  he  was  as  reluct- 
iint  as  Xing  George  hi m;- elf  to  see  their  inde))endence  estab- 
lished; hence,  notwithstanding  the  surrender  of  Lord  Corn- 
wallis,  his  hoi)eful  tempei"  meiit  at  times  still  cherished  the 
belief  that  a  re-union  was  ])ossible.  X(»t  long  alter  his  pre- 
sentation at  court,  at  the  ])ersoual  recpiest  of  the  ]ving,  he 
])repared  a  paper,  dated  178:i,  entitled,  "Thoughts  on  tlie 
American  AVar." 


iSi 


I 


b 


1.    Drake's  Uistnric  I'ielil"  luul  Mansions  of  Middlcsox,  p.  258. 

'2.    .'•"nru-ent's  '  Life  of  Andre,'  Appendix,  p.  4o;!. 

;i.    I )nU;t'— private  letter  quoted  liy  Drake,  as  iitiove  stated,  p.  2.')8. 

"  We  hear  nnieli  of  audiences  Kiven  to  .'  mold,  ami  his  beiiiK  present  at  councils." 
—  liciijamiii  J-'iiiiildiii'ti  Liikr  to  7i'.  A'.  Liviw/slun ;  J!i;/<-lnw'g  Lj'c  of  Frimkltn,  \'o  .  II f, 
!>.  IS. 


300 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


It  contains  a  carefully  considered  plan  for  a  reconciliation 
and  re-union  between  the  Crown  and  the  Colonies.  The 
i^randson  of  General  Arnold '  has  ])laced  the  ori^nnal  draft 
of  the  paper,  which  is  in  the  haiHlwritinii^  of  General  Ar- 
nold, in  iny  hands.  So  far  as  1  know,  it  has  never  before 
been  printed.''  It  is  a  curious  and  interestinj^  document, 
and  seeins  to  nio  to  exhibit  some  political  sagacity.  Ar- 
nold had  already  in  his  address  to  his  countrymen  declared 
that  he  had  devoted  his  life  to  the  "  re-union  of  the  British 
Empire,  as  the  best  and  only  means  to  dry  up  the  streams 
of  miser}'  that  have  deluged  the  country." 

lie  had  expressed  the  conviction  that  it  was  the  intention 
of  Great  Britain  to  leave  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the 
Colonies  nnim])aired,  inclu  ig  "  their  perpetual  exemption 
from  taxatit)!!."' 

On  his  arrival  in  London,  Arnold  learned,  tliat  while  the 
King  had  no  thought  of  yielding,  the  British  people  were 
getting  tired  of  the  war,  and  hopele^'s  of  success. 

In  the  paper  referred  to,  he  enters  into  an  elaborate  argu- 
ment to  slunv  that  a  nuijority  of  the  Americans  were  op- 
posed to  a  separation;  he  earnestly  recommeiuls  a  change 
in  the  conduct  of  the  wai\  connnenting  cautiously  on  the 
delicate  subject  of  "  the  inactivity  and  misdirection  of  the 
King's  arms  i..  the  past." 

He  calls  attention  to  the  great  mistake,  as  he  regarded 
it,  that  no  attem])t  had  be 211  made  to  set  up  "the  civil  au- 
thority in  any  part  of  America,"  and  asserts  that  until  this 
was  done,  "  the  loyalists  win  not,  nor  indeed  can  they,  give 
an_y  special  asr^istance  to  the  royal  cause." 

The  reason  for  this  he  explains  at  some  length,  saying: 

"I  have  said  tlioy  irill  not.  Because  i\vy  wcc  Eiifilhhmcn.  Nay,  an 
American  Husbanthuaii  will  no  sooner  quit  his  farm  and  Family,  to  be- 


1.  Tlic  Hov.  KiUviinl  Oliiilwiii  AniuM. 

2.  See  piiptT  in  lull  in  tho  Ajipundix. 


H-i>     —r^ 


III8    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TKEASOX. 


3G1 


romo  a  romiiion  Poldior  at  six  Pcnco  a  rlay  Wajjos,  with  rations,  tlian  an 
Kiif,'lish  ( Jc'iitli'inan  of  £")0U  a  year  in  tho  Funds,  lie  will  not  lend  his 
hand  to  erect  a  military  Misrule  over  himself  and  his  Friends,  and  put 
ail  his  Property  at  tho  Discretion  of  an  Arbitrary  Police,  that  has  cut 
the  'J'hroat  of  the  Kinff's  Interest  wherever  it  has  heen  set  up. 

"  lie  has,  however,  no  Ohjeclion  to  serve  in  tho  Militia  within  his  own 
Colony,  under  officers  who  are  of  it,  and  to  assist  in  siipportintf  its  Gov- 
ernment and  di'fendiii<r  himself  in  if,  ami  may  jjirhaiis  pursue  thePebel 
out  of  it,  or  mt'ot  him  on  a  menaced  Invasion  nrar  the  liorders. 

"  But  for  this  Purpose  the  Civil  Authority  of  tho  Crown  must  first  be 
sot  up;  and  without  it.  Great  Britain  (the  .\morican  bi'in<;  what  ho  is) 
can  neither  be  benefitted  by  his  Councils,  his  Purse,  nor  his  arms.  He 
will  lie  passive  while  under  the  Power  of  tho  Usurpers,  and  when  they 
are  flyiu<^  before  the  Kiiif^''s  Troops,  continue  if  he  can  at  homo,  givinj? 
aid  to  neither  Party,  and  certainly  not  opi)Ose  the  royal  army,  if  he  finds 
it  i)0ssil)lL'  to  avoid  it;  and,  in  short,  behave  in  the  manner  Lord  Corn- 
waliis  experienced;  distrustinjf  both  the  strength  of  his  Army  to  f,'ivo 
ju'otoetion,  and  what  is  worse,  to  afford  the  Protection  of  the  Laws  of  the 

After  speakiiii^  of  the  feel)le  and  cxliausted  couditiitii  of 
tlie  Colonies,  tlie  threat  depreciation  of  their  pa])er  cnrrency, 
and  the  small  nnml)er  of  Continental  soldiers  in  the  liehl, 
he  alludes  to  the  discontented  condition  of  Veniiont,  and 
sufj<,'ests  measures  for  detachiuf^  her  froin  the  Union;  and 
he  concludes  this  topic  by  saving: 

"  By  the  complete  Detachment  of  Vo' "'iont  from  the  Rebel  Interest, 
and  the  Kediiction  of  the  lli},di!and  Forts  enrbf  in  the  sprliif/,  much  may 
be  expected  in  the  next  Campaifrn,  especially  since  the  Now  Yorkers  in 
f,'enoral,  and  a  very  f,'reat  i>roportion  of  the  Country  between  them  and 
Connecticut  River  are  known  to  be  very  favoural)ly  inclined  to  the  Re- 
union." 

Tie  tlien  recommended  "  a  new  ])eaee  CDmmission  to  tho 
Colo  lie.?,"  saying,  "'a  new  peace  Commission  is  indispen- 
saltly  necessary." 

"  Perplexed  as  the  Congress  must  be  under  the  growing:  uneasiness  of 
the  People,  neither  affection  to  tho  French,  nor  a  republican  Attach- 
ment, nor  even  the  Aims  f  .\ml>ition.  would  prevent  them  from  listening' 
to  Overtures  that  were  litrltine  and  Irnvirtsible,  if  themselves  could  bo 


i 

r 


302 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD, 


Kt'cureil  from  tho  vindictive  rage  of  tlio  Multitude  tlioy  havo  misled, 
op|jr(.'ss»3d  and  ruined,  as  well  as  from  the  resentment  of  the  Crown.     *     * 

"  It  can  scarcely  be  necessary  to  add,  that  the  new  Peace  Commission- 
ers should  have  every  Power  of  the  Crown,  for  the  appointment  to  oiRces 
— from  Governors  downwards,  that  when  they  return  to  England,  they 
may  have  the  (iovernment  established  upon  sii'  h  a  Plan,  as  all  thinj,'-s 
considered,  may  appear  to  be  expedient,  nor  that  the  success  of  tho  Com- 
mission will  depend  nnich  upon  their  beinpr  persons  of  Rank,  (onl  rofficr 
SfotcsiiwH  than  Soldiers,  and  of  Characters  in  such  estimation  for  the 
Fulness  of  their  powers  as  to  inlhienco  the  Executive  Instruments,  both 
of  the  army  and  navy,  to  nfaitli/iil,  s/iirlfcd,  and  luunK^nious  Contluct.'' 

"  All  these  thinys,"  says  he,  "are  sugfrested  on  the  supposition  that 
(Ircat  Britain  has  such  an  interest  in  her  Colonies  as  is  worth  losteriuy 
for  the  common  good." 

lie  expresses  the  conviction  that  "  the  war  was  now  nearly 
at  an  end,"  unless  Jiritain  despairs  of  success. 

Had  the  policy  towards  the  Colonies,  botli  civil  and  mili- 
tary, pointed  out  in  this  ])aper  been  pursued  by  the  J>ritish 
government  early  in  the  war,  indejiendence  would  have  been 
a  far  more  difficult  achievement. 

It  is  apparent  that  Arnold  ho])ed  to  have  been  appointed 
one  of  the  New  Peace  Commissioners  in  the  plan  of  settle- 
ment proposed  by  him,  and  it  is  probable  that  he  antici])ateil 
that  by  contributing  towards  peace,  and  securing  for  the 
Colonies  substantial  self-<xovernment,  he  miii-ht  mitiirate  to 
some  extent  tlie  hatred  felt  towards  him  in  iVmerica.  Al- 
though the  paper  was  read  with  great  satisfaction  by  the 
Iving,  and  added  to  Arnold's  intluence  at  Court,  it  came  too 
late;  the  British  nation  was  tired  of  the  war,  the  paper  led 
to  no  action,  and  it  soon  became  very  clear  that  American 
indepeiulence  was  a  fact  accomplished,  and  nothing  was  left 
to  England  but  to  accept  the  inevitable. 

The  fascination  which  Mrs.  Arnold  l>y  her  beauty,  her 
goodness  and  her  grace  exercised  o\er  all,  was  not  less 
marked  in  England  than  in  America.  Tarlteon  and  other 
officers  who  had  met  her  in  Philadel[>hia  and  New  York, 


HIS   PATRlOTISil    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


363 


were  cntliurtiastic  in  their  expressions  of  {uliiiiratioii.  and, 
as  has  been  stated,  dechired  her  the  most  "l)eaiitit'nl  woman 
in  Eni^Umd."  However  this  may  have  been,  the  letter  before 
([uoted  says,  "  the  queen  was  so  interested  in  favor  of  Mrs. 
Arnold  as  to  desire  the  ladies  of  the  court  to  ])ay  much  atten- 
tion to  her." 

At  tlie  same  time  Arnold  was  most  severely  assailed  by 
the  Whig  newspajters,  and  received  many  mortifying  indig- 
nities from  persons  in  the  op])osition.  He  received  lor  his 
alleged  losses,  in  consequence  of  his  joining  the  J>ritish,  the 
sum  of  £0315;  £5000  of  M'hich  he  invested  in  four  per  cent, 
consols,  realizing  therefrom  £To(tO  in  stocks. 

Mrs.  Arnold,  some  time  after  her  arrival  in  England, 
received  a  ])ension  of  £500  per  annum,  and  each  of  her 
children  £100  jier  annum,  from  the  J'ritish  government.' 

In  Rhode  Island,  upon  an  old  gravestone,  erected  to  the 
memory  of  Oliver  Arnold,  who  died  in  1770,  are  carved  the 
arms  of  the  family."  The  crest  was  a  demi-lyon-ranq)ant, 
etc.,  and  the  motto, '''' Gloria  mihisnrsum.^^ 

1.  Mainis(!ript  letter  of  Kev.  Kdwiini  (Uailwin  Armilil. 
Tiie  fulldwiii},'  is  ii  copy  of'tlie  Koyul  wurmiit  for  Mrs.  Arnold's  pension  : 
"Geoiiuk  R.  Our  will  it  plt'us\ire  i.s,  ami  \vu  do  hereby  dircit.  iiulliorize  &,  cum- 
niand.  tliat  an  annuity  or  Yearly  pension  of  Five  hundred  pounds  be  e>tabllshed  & 
paid  by  You  unto  Margaret  Arnold,  wife  of  our  tru.-ty  it  well  beloved  lJrii,'adier 
(ienenil,  HiMiediet  Arnold,  to  eonunence  from  the  day  of  the  ilaio  hereof,  it  continuo 
durinf-  our  pleasure,  in  sueh  &  like  manner  as  other  our  i>>t  iblisbed  pension^, 
I):iy<djle  by  Yciu  are,  itc.,  and  this  >liii'.l  be  Ihervfor  a  sulVieieut  Warnitit.  Oiveu 
at  our  court  at  St.  Janics.  the  I'.uli  day  of  Miuxh,  IVsj,  In  Uie  ^Jd  year  of  our 
Ueign,    By  his  Maje-ty's  eonimand. 


'To  our  rirht  Trusty  it  well  beloved 

\Vll.I,I.\M  UaI.I.,  VlCOlNTGACiK, 

I'avmaster  of   our  I'eii.sion.s,  Ae." 


■  N'OIITH. 

'  I'.Vl  MKNTON. 

'  R.  Sutton. 


2.    "They  (the  arms)  are  idiutii'ul  with  those  euf;ra\ed  on  the  lorn!)  stcjiiu  of 

« iliver  Arnold,  of  Uhoi'o  Islan<l,  who  died  iu  I'Tn,  and  those  of  Sir  Nicholas  Arnold, 

of  Hishiun  (  ourt.  county  of  Gloucester,  whose   family   eanie  from  Monmouth, 

Wales.    The  wwHu,'  Mild  uloria  nirsum,'   i.s  traditional.     *      *      we   translate  ii 

llin/itfili  <j'i)ry iiiddcd  tow .'  "  C.  H.  Aunoi.d.  " 

Others  have  translated  it :    "  My  glory  is  un  high,"  and  "  All  I  see'i  is  glory.  ' 


i 


4      — 


3G4 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ATNOLD. 


Tliese  arms,  or  soinetliing  very  similar,  liiul  Itecii  pome- 
times  vised  on  his  seal  by  Heiiedict  Arnold,  in  America. 

It  is  a  si<'nilicant  fact  that  after  his  ari'ival  in  Kiii^land, 
(xcneral  Arnold  chanixed  the  motto  to  ''A7/  despcrandumy 
Jt  seems  to  me  this  clianirc  is  fnll  of  ])atlios,  and  it  is  not 
the  least  expressive  anioni:;  the  very  few  indications  his 
])rond  spirit  ever  ^ave,  of  the  sulferiiii^  a<;ain  t  which  he 
strn<i:<^led.  In  all  the  corres])ondence  of  his  fiuure  life  and 
that  of  his  family,  I  find  hardly  an  allnsion  to  his  career  in 
America;  no  com])laint;  whatever  his  regrets  and  feelings, 
he  gave  no  sign,  bnt  this  change  in  the  motto  on  Ins  seal — 
from  "J//A/^  (jhn'Ui.  i^iu'fmiii^''  to  "A'/Y  desperatidmn''^ 
("Never  despair'-) — tells  the  story  of  his  snti'erings,  and 
how  he  strnggled  against  despair. 

The  kindness  shown  to  the  exile  and  his  family  hy  the 
King  and  (^neen  was  honorable  to  them,  especially  to  King 
(leorge,  who,  whatever  Arnold's  fanlts,  seems  to  have  been 
tonched  by  his  reverses  of  fortnne,  caused  by  what  was 
treason  to  his  country,  but  whicli  the  Xing  regarded  as  a 
return  to  his  allegiance.  However  Arnold's  conduct  might 
look  to  others,  and  however  justly  and  severely  it  might  be 
condenmed  by  his  countrymen  and  the  world,  perha])s  it 
was  not  unnatural  for  the  King  to  see  in  it  a  sincere  and 
honest  change  of  o])inion,  and  a  rt'turn  of  personal  loyalty 
to  himself.  He  took  Arnold  at  his  word,  and  alwavs  treated 
him  and  his  family  as  though  he  believed  he  had  sincerely 
and  honestly  and  from  good  motives  returned  to  his  allegi- 
ance. Hence  the  favor  with  which  he  was  received  at  court; 
hence  the  pension  to  Mrs.  Arnold  and  her  children,  and  the 
King's  active  aid  in  placing  Arnold's  sons  in  the  way  of 
obtaining  a  military  education  preparatory  to  commissions 
in  the  iJritish  army,  as  will  be  hereafter  more  fully  de- 
tailed. 

The  sad  i'ate  of  Major  Andre  had  created  a  profound  sen- 


; ! 


1 1 


HIS    rATRIOTISM    A>D   HIS    TUEASOX. 


3G5 


satioii  in  Eugliunl,  and  when,  soon  after  Arnokri?  arrival 
there,  it  was  sui^i^ested  to  the  Kini;  to  erect  a  monument  to 
his  memory  in  AVestminster  Abbey,  Arnold  toolc  a  wai-m 
interest  in  the  movement,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  watelied 
its  protjress  to  completion  with  the  deepest  sympatliy. 

An  American  h)yalist,  an  exile  in  Eni,dand  for  his  opin- 
ions, mentions  in  his  diary  the  incident  of  seeinij;  General 
Arnold  and  his  wife  in  Westminster  Abhev,  readinir  tlie 
inscri|>tion  on  Andre's  monument  and  eonversini^  toijetlior.' 

"  Alany  a  citizen  of  tlie  i^i-eat  Western  lie])ubiic,'"  as  J  )ean 
Stanley  says/  "lias  paused  before  the  sight  of  this  sad  story," 
but  never  any  with  hearts  more  deeply  touched  than  were 
those  of  Arnold  and  his  wife. 

Had  the  loyalist  who  recorded  the  ahove  incident  heen 
behind  some  contiguous  monument  he  would  probably  have 
heard  a  sad  dialogue  ^  fen  these  exiles,  lamenting  the 
])itiable  fate  of  poo  .ndre.  lie  would  have  heard  JVIrs. 
Arnr)ld  recall  the  bright  davs  of  her  girlhood,  when  Andre, 
the  gayest  of  the  gay,  was  the  frequent  guest  of  her  fathe:-, 
and  the  brilliant  favorite  of  the  social  circle  in  which  she 
moved. 

Tie  .dd  have  heard  Arnold  recall  his  ]>arting  from 
Aiahv  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  and  he  might  have 
heard  the  exiled  general,  when  looking  hack  upon  the  tei-- 
ril)le  fate  of  Andre  and  his  own  still  more  utdiapjiy  life, 
exclaim: 

"  "Would  that  1  had  died  in  battle  at  Quebec,  or  on  the 
bloody  deck  of  my  ship  on  Lake  Champlain,  or  at  Saratoga, 
i-ather  than  this  terrible  drama!  Then  Andre  might  have 
been  alive  to-day,  and  you  happy  at   your  father's  fireside." 

''Do  not  reproach  yourself,"  interrupted  his  wife.  "  ]\ry 
own  life  can  never  be  unhappy  whde  you  and  our  children 
are  with  me." 

1.    Life  of  Peter  Van  Schaack,  p  117. 
'J.    Stan'ey's  Westraiiistgr  .Vbbey,  p.  'J82. 


:30G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


f 


After  a  pause  Arnold  continued: 

"Yonder,"  ])ointin<:^  towards  tlie  cliapel  of  Henry  VII, 
"yonder,  anionii;  En_<;lan(l's  kin^s,  lie  the  remains  of  Gen- 
eral Monk,  Duke  of  Albemarle,'  whose  part  in  England's 
history  I  was  to  tc-enact  in  America,  as  they  told  me,'"'  said 
Arnold,  with  a  smile  of  bitter  i'  .  y  upon  himself. 

"  If  I  had  succeeded,  as  I  hoped,"  said  he,  "  in  re-uniting 
the  Empire,  I  too  might  have  found  a  place  and  a  monu- 
ment here — as  they  promised  me."  * 

As  he  lingered,  savily  leaning  on  Andre's  monument, 
among  the  graves  of  so  many  who  have  made  the  greatness 
and  the  glory  of  England,  he  realized  that, 

"  No  nation's  eyes  would  on  his  lomb  be  bent, 
No  liero  envy  him  his  monument, 
Howevtu-  boldly  his  warm  blood  was  spilt, 
His  life  was  shame,  his  epitaph  was  guilt." 

1.  "  They  (Monk  ami  Montague  and  Ormond),  were  aU  bviricd  among  the  Kings, 
in  the  clminjl  of  Henry  \U."—Stan!e!/'s  Westmimtcr  Ahheij,  p.  249. 

2.  "  Had  the  scheme  succeeded,"  wrote  an  olTiccr  of  the  Coldstream  Guards,  "no 
rank  would  have  overpaid  so  important  a  service  "  as  Arnold's. — Lye  of  Andre, 
p.  450. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


m 


GENERAL  ARNOLD  ENGAGES  IN  BUSINESS. 

"I  am  one  wliom  the  wrld  loves  not." 

Arnold  Settles  in  TonTMAN  .'•liVAiiE,  I.onhon— Livm  Beyond  his  5Ie.\xs~En- 
CAOES  IN'  Trade— Kemoves  to  St.  John's,  New  Hkin.swkk— Family  Coriik.s- 
PONDENCE— Mrs.  Arnold  Visit.s  her  Kamu.y  at  I'iiiladkli-hia. 

TiiK  definitive  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United  States 
and  (ircat  liritain  was  signed  Sej)tenil)er  3d,  178i>.  The 
teelin<;'  among  the  people  of  Engh\nd  against  a  further 
prosecution  of  tlie  war,  had  l)een  constantly  increasing  since 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  and  no  hostile  movements  of 
very  great  importance  occurred  after  that  event.  Arnold 
does  not  apjK'ar  to  have  seen  any  active  service  as  a  soldier 
after  his  arrival  in  Enuland.  There  seem  to  have  been  ffrcat 
difficulties  in  reirard  to  his  eniplovment,  and  it  is  not  hard 
to  understand  what  thev  were,  and  they  must  have  l)een 
most  galling  to  one  with  a  s])irit  so  haughty  and  ])roud. 
None  donbted  either  his  bravery  or  his  great  al)ility  as  a 
soldier,  and  the  King  was  his  friend,  and  would  have  gladly 
given  him  positions  where  he  might  have  distinguished 
himself.  That  he  ])assionately  sought  such  positions,  and 
especially  in  the  wars  witli  France.  e:igerly  seeking  an  op])or- 
tunity  to  wash  off  with  his  bloo<l  the  blot  U[)on  his  fame, 
was  M-ell  known,  and  was  made  manifest  by  his  aj)peal  to  the 
Duke  of  York  and  Earl  Sjiencer,  which  will  appear  here- 

(367) 


;j()8 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


after.  But  the  officers  of  tlio  I»ritisli  army  were  made  up 
largely  of  tlie  sons  of  the  nohility,  and  how  they  regunliMl 
a  Colonist  a])iioars  in  the  treatment  of  Washini^'tim  in  the 
old  French  war  by  I'raddock  and  the  English  government; 
besides,  and  of  much  greater  importance,  Arnold's  conduct 
at  West  Point  was  condemned  almost  as  severely  by  the 
liberal  party  in  England  as  by  his  own  countrymen,  and 
there  were  very  few  who  ajiproved  it.  With  this  strong 
feeling  against  him  ])ervading  one  i)arty,  and  existing  ex- 
tensively in  the  other,  it  was  difficult  to  give  him  em])loy- 
ment  as  a  soldier.  lie  chafed  and  struggled  against  this 
exclusion  as  an  imprisoned  eagle  struggles  for  lil)irty,  but 
in  vain. 

During  this  period  his  social  lif^  involved  much  larger 
expenditure  than  his  ineans  su[)j)lied.  It  was  a  fault  oi'  his 
character  to  be  lavish  and  extravagant,  Mud  his  expenses 
were  never  measured  by  his  income.  I'eing  without  mili- 
tiiry  employment,  he  had  no  source  of  revenue  exce])t  his 
small  investment  in  the  fumls,  his  pay  as  an  oMicor,  and  the 
pension  of  his  wife. 

lie  seems  finally  to  have  resolved  to  devote  his  attention 
to  the  education  and  advancement  of  his  family,  and  the  ac- 
quisition of  a  fortune  adequate  to  their  wants.  He  resumed 
the  employments  of  his  early  years,  and  again  became  a 
merchant.  In  these  efforts  to  mend  his  fortune  Arnold  was 
seconded  by  his  wife,  with  an  executive  al)ility  and  good 
sense  which  it  would  have  been  well  for  him  if  he  had  im- 
plicitly folloM-ed. 

The  family  correspondence  shows  that  both  General  and 
Mrs.  Arnold  Avere  persons  of  unusually  strong  family  attach- 
ments. Ilia  correspondence  with  his  sister  Hannah,  and 
with  his  sons  by  his  first  wife,  wh">  remained  duritig  their 
childhood  and  youth  under  his  s.  .  :'»  care,  M'as  frequent 
and  afl'ectionate.     The  letters  of  Mrs.  Arnold  to  her  father 


HI 


HIS    PATUIOTIS.M    AND    III.S    TUKASOX. 


3(;i) 


and  siKters  in  IMiilinU'lpliia,  are  modfl.s  of  filial  ami  ^i^t^'l*]y 
afVcctiiiii;  and  her  attcnticms  to  licr  luisband's  sister,  and  his 
I'ldi'i*  situs,  J5un,    Uifiiard   and    llunry,  were   constant    aii'l 

dt!Vt)tl'<l. 

In  .lannarv,  1T>«o.  there  was  born  to  them  their  first 
danji'htei',  named  lor  her  niotiier,  Margaret,  but  she  lived 
only  to  the  next  Anyiist. 

(ieorne,  their  tliird  son  ami  fourth  child,  was  born  in 
J\Iareh.  1TS4.  and  died  very  soou  thereafter. 

Sophia  Matilda,  their  seeond  dau^'hter  and  fifth  ehild,  was 
born  in  London,  July  2.stli,  ITS'). 

( )ii  tlie  13th  of  duly,  in  the  s.inie  year,  ^frs.  Arnold  writes 
to  her  father  in  relation  to  Mount  Pleasant,  the  eoimtry-seat 
Mhieh  (Jeneral  Ai-nold  luul  settled  upon  her  and  her  chil- 
di'in  at  the  time  of  their  nuirria£j;e,  saviiii;  : 

"  (iencviil  Arnold  desires  you  will  be  so  ^'ood  as  t"  sell  Mount  Pleasant 
for  as  niiieh  as  yon  can,  and  if  it  should  fall  short  of  tlio  snni  wldeh  you 
{^avo  (besides  paying?  otf  the  inort^M</e),  ho  desires  you  will  bo  so  yood  as 
to  draw  on  hira  for  that  ballanco,  as  he  thinks  it  better  to  jml  up  will: 
the  first  loss  than  to  advance  any  more  money  on  Mount  Pleasant.'     * 

'■  1  nmst  reipiest  my  dearest  rai)a  to  present  my  tend'-r  love  to  the 
family,  (leneral  Arnold  beys  to  bt>  remiMubered  to  30U  all  in  the  mosl 
atl'ectionato  mam  er." 

^[eanwhile,  (lencral  Arnold  had  fitted  out  a  shij)  for  a 
tradin<;  voya^i^^e  to  the  AV'est  Indies,  iu  which  he  sailed.  In 
liis  absence,  and  livin<;  anioui''  strano'ers,  Airs.  Arnold  stiaii'' 
<>"led  to  maintain  her  fortitude.  In  a  letter  to  her  fathei\ 
dated  April  11th,  ITsi],  she  details  her  embarrassments  and 
sorrows  in  a  letter  full  of  pathos. 

She  says: 

"  My  dear  and  eveu  iioxoiu^d  Papa: 

"  *  *  *  I  am  still  in  the  most  unhappy  state  of  suspense 
respecting  the  General,  not  having  heard  Irom  him  since  the  account  of 
his  ship's  being  lost.        »        *        * 

1.    .\utograph  letter,  July  13, 1785. 
24 


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WEBSTER,  NY.  14SB0 

(716)  872-4503 


Sf 


370 


LIFE   OF   llENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


! 


"  T  assure  you,  my  (Ipiir  Pupa,  I  find  it  necessary  to  summon  all  my 
philosophy  to  my  aid  to  support  myself  under  my  present  sitiuition. 

"Separated  from,  and  anxious  for  the  fate  of  the  best  of  husbands, 
torn  from  almost  every  body  that  is  dear  to  me,  harrassed  with  atrouble- 
som(»  and  (expensive  law-suit.'  havinj^  all  the  General's  business  to  trans- 
act, and  feelinpr  that  I  am  in  a  stranjre  country,  without  a  creature  near 
me  that  is  really  interested  in  my  fate,  you  will  not  wonder  if  1  am 
unhappy. 

"  Hut  I  will  not  distress  j'ou,  my  beloved  Papa,  with  mj'  unavailing,' 
complaints,  which  T  seldom  suffer  to  enjrross  either  my  pen  or  my  tonjjue; 
but  deprived  of  all  domestic  society,  1  have  too  nmch  time  to  indul|;e 
them." 

Like  a  devoted  motlier,  slie  turns  toiler  cliildren  for  coii- 

«olation,  and  adds: 

"My  children  are  perfectly  well — my  little  girl  the  picture  of  health, 
and  has  never  had  an  hour's  illness.  I  still  continue  to  nurse  her.  I 
\n'ii,  my  di'arest  Papa,  you  will  present  my  tender  love  to  nil  the  faimly. 
With  unceasiny  prayers  for  your  and  their  health  and  happiness,  believe 
me,  Yoiu's  affectionately." " 

Slie  was  soon  relieved  by  news  of  lier  husband's  safety. 

In  1787,  Cleneral  Arnold  removed  to  St.  Johns,  New 
Brunswick,  and  entered  largely  into  mercantile  business,  en- 
ijjnLjinii;  principally  in  the  West  India  trade.  Mr.  Sparks 
suiTireststhat  theKnirlish  (4overnment  <j;ranted  him  facilities 
in  the  way  of  contracts  for  suj)plyinij^  the  troops  there  with 
provisions.'  lie  carried  on  an  extensive  business,  buildiuf^ 
ships,  and  sendiui^  cargoes  to  the  West  Indies.  Ilis  two 
sons,  Kichard  and  Henry,  joined  him,  and  aided  him  in  his 
extensive  operations.  At  St.  Johns  were  a  large  number 
(tf  loyalists,  refugees  from  the  United  States,  who  ha<l  tied, 
or  been  exiled  from  their  native  country,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  had  settled  on  this  island. 

Arnold  is  said  to  have  exhibited  here  some  of  his  charac- 
teristic faults,  living  in  a  style  of  ostentation  and  display, 

1.    An  old  claim  against  General  Arnold,  which  was  decided  by  the  court  in  his 
favor. 
'i.    A  utopraph  letter,  Septcmbcrll,  1786. 
3.    Sparks'  Life  of  Arnold,  p.  332. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


371 


nnd  to  liave  been  liaiiijhtv  ami  reserved  in  liis  interconrse, 
so  that  lie  became  ])ersonally  f)bjioxloii8. 

While  the  family  were  residing  at  St.  Johns,  George  Ar- 
nold, their  sixth  child,  was  l)orii. 

An  incident  occurred  while  he  was  a  resident  on  the  isl- 
and, which  has  been  told  in  such  a  way  as  to  throw  discredit 
upon  General  Arnold,  and  to  exhibit  the  injustice  with  which 
he  has  often  been  treated.  In  his  absence  on  a  visit  to 
Kugland,  a  warehouse  in  which  his  goods  were  stored,  took 
tire  on  the  11th  of  July,  1788,  at  night,  and  with  its  con- 
tents was  entirely  consumed.  His  son,  Henry  Arnold, 
sleeping  in  the  store,  was  severely  burned,  barely  escaping 
with  his  life.  The  goods,  amounting  to  several  tliousand 
pounds,  were  insured.  Jlis  enemies  circulated  reports  that 
lie  himself  had  caused  the  tire,  to  defraud  the  underwriters, 
and  they  made  such  re])resentations  that  the  insurance  offi- 
cers refused  pavment  of  the  insurance  monev.  Arnold 
brought  suit,  and  after  a  full  investigation  and  trial,  he 
recovered  the  full  amount. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  the  judicial  investigation  and  judg- 
ment of  the  court,  Arnold's  absence  in  England  at  tiie  time 
of  the  fire,  and  tlie  fact  that  his  son  came  near  being  burned 
to  death  in  the  conflagration,  the  cruel  charge  has  been 
made,  and  repeated  time  and  time  again,  that  he  burned  his 
warehouse  in  St.  Johns  to  defraud  the  underwriters. 

This  is  one  of  the  thousand  slanders  which  have  been 
eagerly  seized,  and  withont  investigation  put  in  circulation, 
and  often  repeated  witliont  care,  whether  true  or  false;  yet 
this  is  one  of  the  penalties  for  his  great  crime.  His  vir- 
tues all  ignored,  his  faults  exaggerated,  and  a  thousand 
ialsehoods  lieaped  upon  his  memory.  "  Verily,  the  way  of 
the  transgressor  is  hard  !" 

Tn  1788  General  Arnold  and  family  returned  to  London, 
and  in  August  of  that  year  Chief  Justice  Shippen  writes  to 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


9 


his  diuif^litcr,  ad»lrt'.ssiii<^  her  iit   No.    IS   (iluiiccbter  riaee, 
PortiiiJiii  SiiUiire,  LoikIdm,  in  wliicii  he  sajs  : 

"I  writo  from  my  count ry-pliic<',  alwut  four  niili;s  from  the  city,  which 
is  af?ain  visitcil  hy  a  lualiyuiint  fi'vv'r,  autl  tiii'rcforo  unsafe  to  n'sidi;  in. 
This  dr<'a<Iful  sickness,  iuMed  to  the  iipiirehen^ions  of  a  war  witli  om* 
fornior  frienilH,  the  French,  has  daniiied  our  spirits,  and  tiireatons  to 
ciieck  the  projjresH  of  our  once  jirosperouw  country.     ♦     *     * 

"  By  way  ol  domestic  news,  I  must  tell  you  that  our  nahoh,  Mr.  Hinjr- 
ham,  has  just  married  his  ohlest  dau^'liter  to  Alexander  Baring,  son  of 
Sir  Francis  Baring',  of  your  country."' 

Mrs.  Ai-ii()l(l,  after  an  alisence  of  seven  vears,  vearned  to 

see  her  father  and  lier  family  once  more- and  on  the  14tli  ot 

August,  1T7S,  writes  to  her  sister,  Mrs.  Ilurd,  as  follows: 

"  As  the  time  (h'aws  near  when  I  hope  to  be  blessed  with  the  society  of 
my  beloved  sister,  I  find  my  impatience  increases, — I  sometimes  fear  that 
it  is  im])ossil)le  1  shall  ever  be  so  hapi)y  as  tobeholil  mydc  t,  tenderly 
In'lovod  parents  and  sisters  ;  yet  as  I  have  got  the  better  oi  iiost  every 
obstacle  to  my  paying  you  a  visit,  1  ou<,'ht  to  anticipate  nothing  but 
pleasure — 1  feel  great  regret  at  the  iilea  f)f  le  iviiig  the  ticneral  alone,  and 
much  perplexed  with  business,  but  as  he  strongly  lu'g".:  w  measure  that 
will  be  jiroductive  of  so  much  happiness  to  me,  I  think  there  can  be  no 
improi)riety  in  taking  the  step.  *  *  There  is  an  excellent  ves.sel  that 
sails  between  this  place  and  New  York,  entirely  fitted  out  tor  the  accom- 
modation of  passengers — It  is  generally  much  crowded,  but  to  avoid  that 
inconvenience,  the  ticneral  proposes  taking  the  whole  cabin  for  me,  if  it 
can  be  prncuri'd  upon  tolerably  reasonable  terms,  in  which  case  it  wdlbe 
oi)tional  with  me  to  admit  any  other  persons.  J  hope  to  leave  this  some 
time  in  October — I  hope,  my  dear  Sister,  that  I  shall  not  put  Mamma  to 
the  least  additional  trouble  on  my  account  ;  it  would  distress  me  ex- 
tremely if  1  did,  in  the  jirest^nt  state  of  her  health.  1  cannot  rottrviiiiuth/ 
go  witho\it  one  maid  and  child  ;  yet  if  that  would  enlarge  the  family  too 
much,  I  would  make  my  arrangements  ditfenMitly,  and  leave  only  for  a 
couple  of  months — I  am  sure  when  I  am  with  you,  that  ^lamma  will  find 
that  it  is  my  wish  rather  to  lessen,  than  to  add  to  the  cans  of  her 
family.  Pray  let  me  hear  from  you  soon  ;  T  am  extremely  anxious  about 
Mamma,  the  account  you  gave  me  of  her  situation  has  almost  troken 
my  heart — she  must  sutfer  extremely  from  the  loss  of  lier  limbs,  as  she 
has  been  accustomed  to  so  nmch  exercise." 


1.    or  the  linnily  of  till' prrcnt  1  ankers,  aud  whuso  son  negotiated  with  Daniuv 
Webster  tlie  Ashlnirlim  Treaty. 


HIS   PATIUOTIS.M    AND    Ills    TREASON. 


3— •■» 


********* 

"  A  thousand  loves  to  Mr,  W.  and  tho  family;  I  wrote  to  my  Mamma  and 
Bister  some  days  ago  but  was  disappointed  in  sendinjjf  my  letters," 

Mrs.  Arnold  mmlc  tlie  jonrney  and  visited  her  fjiniily  in 
Pliila(U'lj)liia,  in  accordance  witii  the  plans  mentioned  in 
the  al)ove  letter,  hut  her  rece])tion  hy  nearly  all  her  ohi 
triends,  outside  of  her  iinniediate  faniilv,  was  so  cold  and 
rejtellintr,  that  her  warm  and  ati'ectionatc  heart  was  chilled, 
and  she  was  deeply  grieved. 

Perhaps  this  was  not  surprisiiiij;,  but  she  was  not  pre- 
]Kired  for  it.  The  feelin<x  ai>;ainst  lier  husband,  and  to  some 
extent  aijainst  herself,  made  her  visit  to  America  verv  un- 
comfortable.  She  returned  to  LondoTi,  and  the  family 
went  back  to  St.  Johns,  \vhere  they  remaiiu'd  until  17l»l. 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  I'urd,  her  sister's  husband,  dated  A])ril 
j;>th,  1791,  Mrs.  Arnold  says: 

'■  Wo  are  in  pleasincr  oxpectation  ofretnrninfjr  this  summer  to  Knji-land, 
a  country  less  hostile  to  our  interests,  and  much  hotter  ealcnlate(l  to  pro- 
mote our  hupiiiucss  than  this.  The  eseheatintr  hinds  and  some  other 
arbitrary  acts  of  tlie  jfovernment  hen;,  are  eausin^  tliis  country  to  dejiop- 
ulate  very  fast.  The  poor  flee  to  their  native  |  laces  in  the  States  for 
ri'fu^c.  Their  reception  there,  I  fear,  is  very  doubtful;  at  least  if  I  may 
judge  from  my  own." 

In  the  same  letter  she  says: 

"  Accept,  my  dear  Mr.  Bnrd,  the  triliute  of  a  j,'ratefnl  heart,  animated 
by  the  most  sincere  and  lively  atfect ion.  Your  conduct  towards  uie  has 
ever  marked  the  real  friend  and  brother." 

A  letter  from  her  father  to  Mrs.  Arnold,  written  in  July, 
1788,  is  interesting,  as  showing  the  kind  and  generous  con- 
sideration and  atfection  he  ever  manifested  for  her.  ller 
brother  had  become  indebtecl  to  General  Arn(»ld  in  the  sum 
of  €750  pounds  sterling,  and  the  (ieneral  ha<l  expressed  a  dt.'- 
sire  that  it  should  be  settled  upon  Mrs.  Arnold  and  her 
children,  for  tlieir  sole  and  sej»arate  use.  Mr.  Shippen 
writes  to  his  daughter,  that 


374 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


"  If  he  (the  son)  does  not  tliHcharf,'o  the  debt  in  my  lifetime,  you  m.ny 
rest  assured  I  will  make  such  a  provision  in  my  will,  that  it  shall  be  paid 
out  of  such  parts  of  uiy  estate  aa  I  shall  allot  for  the  use  of  him  or  his 
family."  » 

In  the  summer  of  1791,  General  Arnold  and  his  family 
returned  to  England,  and  settled  permanently  in  London. 

1.    Manuscript  letter. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


\] 


ARNOLD'S  DUEL  AVITfl  THE  EARL  OF  LAUDERDALE. 

"Through  the  perils  of  chnncc  ivnd  the  scowl  of  disdain 
May  thy  front  be  unaltered,  thy  lournge  e'.atel" 

Arnold  and  Talleyrand— Arnold's  Duel  with  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale— 
Statement  of  Loud  IIawke— Mrs.  Arnold's  Letters  to  her  Father  and  ti» 
Richard  Arnold,  Giving  an  Account  of  the  Duel. 

Those  who  have  8U})pose(l  that  Arnold  was  not  keenly 
sensitive  to  the  opinions  of  liis  countrymen  and  the  worhi, 
because  he  was  too  proud  to  complain  and  generally  reti- 
cent, never  seekinj^  to  excuse  or  palliate  his  conduct,  did 
not  comprehend  the  man.  An  anecdote,  which  I  believe  to 
be  substantially  true,  has  been  published  of  an  interview 
between  him  and  Talleyrand,  which  is  significant  on  this 
phase  of  his  character.  Arnold  and  the  distinguished 
French  diplomat  happened  to  meet  at  an  English  country 
inn.  They  were  strangers,  neither  knowing  the  name  of 
the  other;  but  there  being  no  other  guests,  they  dined  to- 
gether, and  were  mutually  ]deased  with  each  other.  The 
subject  of  the  United  States  and  American  affairs  was  in- 
troduced and  discussed,  and  after  dinner,  they  lingered 
some  time  over  their  wine.  Talleyraml,  impressed  with  the 
intelligence  of  the  stranger,  and  his  fainiliar  knowledge  of 
the  public  men  of  America,  at  length  .said  to  him  :  "  From 
your  knowletlge  of  all  that  rehites   to  the   United  States,! 

(375) 


>i  m^t 


•■)  —  /-» 


LIFK   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


am  sure  you  must  be  an  American;  iny  name  is  Talley- 
rand,''liandin^jj  to  the  (kneral  liis  card,  "and  I  am  about 
to  visit  tliat  country;  ])erliaps  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  give 
me  some  letters  (»t' introduction  to  your  friends  there." 

Arnold  rejdied  :  "You  are  right  in  suj'posing  I  am  an 
American,  1  was  l)oi'n  and  have  spent  nearly  all  my  lite 
there,  vet  I  am  iirohaMv  the  onlv  American  liviui;  who  can 
say,  '  I  have  not  one  friend  in  Amei'ica  I  !No,  not  one  I' 
I  am  Benedict  Arnold." 

The  duel  between  (General  Arnold  and  the  Earl  of  Laud- 
erdale has  been  the  subject  of  much  misrepresentation.  I 
have  the  means  of  stating  the  exact  truth  in  regard  to  it, 
and  of  adding  that  this  was  the  oidy  duel  in  which  he  was 
ever  enijai^ed  while  in  Kn^land. 

The  meeting  grew  out  of  what  was  said  by  Lord  Lauder- 
dale in  the  House  of  Lords,  on  the  31st  of  !May,  1702,  in  a 
very  warm,  excited  and  ])ersonal  debate  on  the  King's  pro- 
clamation against  seditious  meetings.  After  the  Manpus 
of  Abercorn,  the  Karl  of  Harrington,  Lonl  Ilawi.e,  His 
Royal  Highness  the  J'rince  of  Wales,  and  othei's,  had  ad- 
dressed their  Lordships,  the  Karl  of  l^anderdale  followed, 
and  with  great  vehemence  charged  the  Ministers  with  gross 
inconsistency.  He  com])ared  their  conduct  to  that  of  Mr. 
Pitt  and  the  Duke  of  Richmond  at  the  close  of  the  Ameri- 
can war, 

"How  the  noble   Duke   and   ^Mr,  Pitt  would  vindicate 

such  a  change  of  conduct  he  knew  not,  but  would  leave  it 

to  them,"  etc, 

"  The  Eavl  at  longtli  took  notice  of  the  camp  at  Baarshot,  which  he  said 
tlu'  nolilc  I>uke  (of  liichuionrl),  who  had  been  so  strenuous  for  reform, 
wiis  appointed  to  command,  to  ovcrawi!  tlie  peojile,  and  destroy  their 
endeavors  to  obtain  a  retbrin.  IIi;  declared  lie  was  ^dad  the  Duke  was  to 
connnand  the  camp.  If  u/mstac!/  could  justify  promotion,  he  was  thtf 
most  fit  person  for  that  command,  dvneml  Anmhl  (iloiie  excepted, ^^  ' 

1.    fohtx'tt  s  rurliiuiiL'Htary  Dctiiitcs.  Vol.  XXIX.  ]).  l."ilN-1'.t. 

"To  llit'sc  remarks  the  Duku  of  liifhiuoiul  rc';)lii;<.l  in  language  which  called 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


o  — — 


"When  these  roiiiarks  apiicarod  in  tlie  roj)()rt  of  tluMlelmto, 
(TCiu'ral  AriKjld  instantly  >a\v  hirf  (»i)|)ortiniity.  A  soldier 
witli  a  hlot  U])on  his  name,  he  had  heen  an  exile  for  ten 
years,  bearing  in  silence  every  niortitication  and  indignity 
whicli  hitter  enemies  could  inflict. 

These  indignities  and  mortifications  had  generally  been 
in  a  form  and  from  sources  he  could  neither  notice  imr  re- 
sent, and  1r' had  hoi-ne  them  in  hau<ditv  silence.  Now  the 
Karl  of  Lauderdale,  a  nohlenum  as  high  in  character  as  in 
rank,  the  hereditary  standard-hearer  of  Scotland,'  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  in  the  face  of  the  ])eersof  all  Kngland,  and 
in  the  knowledge  of  all  the  world,  had  assailed  him  in  a 
manner  which  no  soldier  could  eiulure.  Arnold  knew  that 
the  words  of  the  I']arl  would  he  seized  hv  his  enraged  conn- 
trymen  as  the  judgment  of  Kngland  upon  his  conduct. 

Such  an  attack  was  not  a  manly  thing  (»n  the  ])art  of  the 
Earl  of  Laiiderdale.  AV^hatever  Arnold's  guilt,  he  was  a 
stranger,  with  not  too  many  friends,  struggling  nneijiudly 
against  a  torrent  of  troubles.  True,  he  had  brought  these 
troubles  u])()n  himself,  but  it  is  not  a  imiiily  or  a  geiu'nuis 
act  to  taunt  even  the  guilty  when  on  the  scaffold.  Hesides, 
it  Avas  hardly  fair  for  a  high  (tfHcial  of  the  government 
which  had  seduced  him,  now  in  his  exile  to  scoff  at  his  trea- 
son. The  EiA'l,  however,  had  no  j)ersuual  hostility  to  Ar- 
nold ;  in  the  heat  of  debate  he  had  used  his  name  "to  point 
a  moral,"  if  not  ''  to  adorn  a  tale." 

He  had  capped  his  brilliant  rhetorical  climax  of  ajiostacy 
with  the  name  of  Benedict  Arnold.    However  amusiu''  this 

(r<iiii  tlio  ICiirl  (if  I.iuidiT.liiU'.  tliroiit.'h  Mr.  (In  y,  ii  iloinnml  for  lui  oxiilrtiDitioii  or  a 
mcciiiii;.  AfttT  (Usciission,  tlio  Earl  of  T-niulcnliik' (Ifclnrcd  the  oxiiri'ssion  iisi'd 
by  him,  applieil  sole.  >  the  Duke  nf  Uiclimoml's  public  conduct,  und  that  he 
luennt  iinthiug  in  aii.,  reM>L'<-'t  to  his  (irace's  private  character.  The  l)uke 
of  Kictlimond,  on  his  part,  declared  he  did  not  persist  In  the  terms  he  used  to 
Lord  Laudenhik",  those  exjiressions  having  been  sutraesteil  solely  by  tlie  idea  of 
his  private  character's  having  been  attacked."— Coi)6c«'«  l\trliamcu'ary  Ikbutcf, 
\ol.  XXlX.p  l.'<li»,  note. 
1.    Lodge's  British  Peerage. 


I 


I 


I 


378 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


i 


may  have  been  to  the  Earl,  it  was  terribly  severe,  not  to  say 
cruel,  to  Arnold.  lie  felt  that  his  hour  had  come,  both 
''the  hour  and  the  man." 

lie  had  waited  for  such  an  ojiportunity  to  seek  such  j)0(»r 
vindication  of  himself  as  "the  field  of  honor,"  so-calletl, 
Would  aflbrd,  and  none  better  suited  to  his  ])ur})osj  could 
have  been  devised — the  place  of  the  assault,  one  of  the 
most  dignified  deliberative  assemhlies  in  the  world  ;  the 
assailant,  in  position,  rank  and  character,  among  the  high- 
est in  England. 

Arnold  gladly  seized  the  o])])ortunity  to  show  that  he  was 
yet  willing  to  die,  if  need  be,  in  vindication  of  his  name, 
and  in  teaching  such  assailants  forbearance,  llis  warm 
])ersonal  friend,  Lord  Ilawke,  volunteered  to  carry  his  mes- 
sage to  the  Earl,  demanding  an  apology  or  a  hostile  meet- 
ijjg.  The  Earl  declined  to  apologize,  and  a  meeting  was 
arranged.  Lord  llavvke  acting  for  General  Arnold,  and 
Charles  James  Fox,  the  great  parliamentary  orator,  acting 
for  Lord  Lantlerdale.' 

The  meeting  was  appointed  for  T  o'clock  on  Sunday 
morning,  a  short  distance  out  of  London,  near  Kilburn 
Wells.  ' ' 

Mrs.  Arnold,  in  a  letter  to  her  father,  set  forth  liereafter, 
says:  "A  variety  of  circumstances  combined  to  make  me 
acquainted  with  the  whole  transaction.  AV^hat  1  sutlered 
for  nearly  a  week  is  not  to  be  described  ;  the  su]>pression 
of  my  feelings,  lest  I  should  unman  the  General,  almost  at 
last  proved  too  much  for  me,  and  for  some  hours  my  reason 
was  despaired  of,  and  I  was  confined  to  my  Led  for  some 
days  after." 

The  picture  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  separated  from  every  rela- 

1.    Fox,  Pitt  and  Burke— Fox,  of  whom  Byron  said, 

'■  Tiie  first  of  tlie  wondrous  three, 
Whose  words  were  sparlis  of  imiuorlfility." 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS    TREASON. 


379 


tion  in  the  world,  "feeling,"  as  she  said  to  her  father  in  a 
Nitter  liefore  mentioned,  "  leelin<^  that  ehe  was  in  a  stran<;o 
country,  without  a  creature  near  her  really  interesttMl  in 
her  fate,"  with  her  youn<5  children  around  her,  stru<xi;liiij^ 
to  suppress  her  feelin«^9  lest  she  should  "  unman"  her  hus- 
hand,  is  an  exhibition  of  heroism,  fortitude  and  devotion 
I'aroly  surpassed. 

On  the  Sunday  mornino;  api^uinted,  General  Arnold  arose 
very  early,  and  ^J.frs.  Arnold  awake,  conscious  that  her 
husband  was  goin^  to  a  hostile  meeting,  which  might  re- 
sult in  his  death,  yet  feigned  sleep,  lest  the  parting  should 
unnerve  hinj.  lie  kissed  her  tenderly,  hut  careful  not  to 
awaken  her,  spoke  no  parting  words,  and  accompanied  Lord 
Ilawke  to  the  ])lace  of  meeting.  There  they  were  met  by 
the  Earl  and  Mr.  Fox.* 

It  was  arranged  that  the  principals  were  to  fire  on  the 
wor<l,  to  be  given  by  Mr.  Fox.  Lord  Lauderdale  receive<l 
(ieneral  Arnold's  lire,  which  was  without  etiect,  but  did  not 
return  the  fire.  Lord  Hawke,  supposing  Lord  Lauderdale's 
pistol  had  missed  fire,  desired  liim  to  fire.  General  Arnold, 
calmly  and  firmly  keejting  his  ground,  to  receive  the  Earl's 
shot,  called  out  to  him  to  "fire."  His  Lordship  d(.'clined, 
saying  he  had  no  enmity  to  General  Arnold.  Lord  Hawko 
then  said  he  supposed  Lord  Lauderdale  would  not  object  to 
say  that  he  did  not  mean  to  asperse  General  Arnold's  char- 
acter. His  Lordship  declined,  saying  he  had  formerly  said 
he  did  not  mean  to  wound  General  Arnold's  feelings  ;  lie 
should  not  explain  what  he  had  said;  General  Arnold  might 
fire  again  if  he  chose.  Tliis  Lord  Ilawke  and  (ieneral  Ar- 
nold said  was  impossible.  Then  Lord  Lauderdale  said  ho 
<!ould  not  retract  his  words,  ])nt  was  sorry  if  any  man  felt 
hurt  bv  them.  On  which  General  Anudd  said,  "that  is 
not  a  proper  apology — such  as  I  would  make  myself  in  a 

1.  For  this  iucident  I  am  indebted  to  Rev.  Edward  G.  Arnold. 


M 


380 


LiFi:  or  «i:n EDICT  ah.vold. 


tiiinlliir  fiitimtioii,"  and  lie  n^ain  iiislsti'd  on  liis  Lordsliip's 
tiriii>;.  Lord  LaiKlcrdalo  did  ii(»t  tire,  Itut  after  a  tew  words 
with  (Jeiieral  Arnold,  and  with  Lord  I  lawke,  «/*^/ J/r. /'or, 
he  came  forward,  and  i-aid  :  ''  I  havt;  no  enmity  aijaiiist 
(ieneral  Ariiohl  ;  J  did  u<>t  numi  tit  (tnj>t:rfii>  fiis  r/itf/'(trfr/;' 
or  woiirid  '  'A  feelint^s,  and  I  am  sorry  that  (ieneral  Arnold 
or  any  oth.  .  person  shonhl  he  hurt  at  what  I  havi;  said.'' 

To  whieh  (ieneral  Arnold  rejilied  :  "  Lonl  Lauderdale,  1 
am  ])erteetly  satistieil  with  your  apology,  provided  our  see- 
oiids  as  men  of  honor  will  say  that  I  (Might  to  l»e." 

Hotli  Lord  llawke  and  ^[r.  Fox  agreed  that  the  apology 
ou'dit  t(t  be  deemed  iterfeetlv  satisfactory. 

Uefore  tlu'  ])arties  left  the  gr(»nnd,  the  Karl,  on  learning 
from  a  messenger  which  ]\Irs.  Arn(»ld,  in  her  extreme  anx- 
iety had  sent  to  the  place  of  meeting,  that  she  was  ill  from 
anxiety  and  apprehetisior.,  with  true  chivalry  ex])ressed 
great  concern  and  regret,  and  l»egge(l  ])ennission  to  wait 
n])on  her  to  express  his  sorrow  ant!  make  his  a]tology. 

The  following  statement  was  drawn  nj)  duly  7,  17l»'i,  hy 
(ieneral  Arnold  at  his  residence  in  Portland  Place,  and  en- 
dorsed and  verified  l»y  J.ord  llawke,  as  "a  moderate  and 
unexaggerated  statement  of  the  dis])ute  between  General 
Arnold  and  Lord  Laiulcrdale:''" 

"A    8TATK     OK     TllK     AKKAIII     OF     IIOXOII     DFXIDKn     HETWKEN    LOIIU 

LAUUEHDAI.K    AND     (iENKUAI-    AUNOI.I),    ON    SUNDAY 

MORNINO,  TIIK    1ST    OF  .Ill-Y,  NKAU 

KILUUUN    WELLS. 

"  Tlie  parties  mot  at  about  8  o'clock — Lord  Lauderdale  with  his  friend, 
Mr.  Fox,  and  Lord  Hawlce,  as  the  friend  of  (ieneral  Arnold.  The  i)ar- 
ties  agreed  to  tire  together,  on  a  word  pfiven  hy  Mr.  Fox.  Lord  Lauder- 
dale  received  General   Arnold's  fire    (which  was   without  etfect),  and 

1.  I  ))clicvo  it  was  the  sdRKC'stiiin  of  Fox,  whose  generous  feelings  were  touched 
by  Arnold's  niisfcjrHnies,  tliat  iiiiluced  llie  Knrl  to  wiihdrnw  the  iispersions  Ufion 
Arnolds  chnriu'ter. 

■J.  The  oriijiniil  iiaper,  in  the  liandwritinj;  of  (iencriil  Arnold,  and  the  emlorse- 
inent,  in  the  handwriting  of  Lord  ilawlie,  furnlslied  by  u  grandson  of  (Jeueral  Ar- 
nold, is  now  before  mu. 


HIS   TATIUUTISM    AM)    HIS    TKKASON. 


381 


I'l'HOivol  liin  own.  Lord  Ifawko  told  Lord  TiiiinliMiliilf  that  liP  bi'lii'vcil 
liis  pi^tiil  liail  inissfd  tii-f,  and  di  siifd  liini  to  tire  lie  wan  also  called 
npon  by  (}i'nt*ral  Arnold  to  tin*  (who  koitt  his  ground  for  that  purpoHtM, 
which  his  Lordship  dtclincd,  saying'  that  ho  had  no  enmity  to  (Jcncrul 
/uimld.  Lord  li.iwko  tliiMi  olistuvctl  that  he  supposed  Lor. I  Lauderdale 
would  not  ohjeet  to  say  that  ho  did  not  mean  to  asperse  (icneral  Arnold's 
character,  which  his  !,orddii]idecliiii'd,  sayini;  that  he  had  formerly  said  ho 
ilid  not  mean  to  wound  (ieiieral  Arnoiil's  ('eelinj,rs;  he  should  not  explain 
what  ho  had  said,  and  that  (leneral  Arnold  nii^ht  tire  a^ain  it'  he  chose, 
'i'his  Lord  llawke  and  tieneral  Arnold  said  was  inipossihie.  Then  L(ad 
Lauderdale  said  he  could  not  retract  his  words,  hut  was  sorry  it' any  man 
telt  hurt  liy  them;  on  which  ( Jeneral  .\rnold  said  that  was  not  a  proju'rapil- 
Otfy — such  ax  he  shouhi  make  himself  in  u  similar  situation — and  UKuin 
insisted  on  his  ljordsliii>'s  firiiifj. 

"  Lord  Lauderdale,  ali"r  having  some  short  conversation  with  (lonoral 
Arnold  and  the  Hcconds,  oame  forward  very  handsomely,  like  a  man  of 
honor,  and  ileclared  "that  he  hatl  no  enmity  auiiinst  (ieneral  Arnold, 
that  he  did  not  mean  to  asperse  (icneral  Arnold's  character,  or  wouml  his 
feelin^fs,  and  wju  sorry  tiiat  (Jeneral  Arnold,  or  any  other  person  should 
he  hurt  at  what  he  liad  said." 

"  (Jeneral  .\rnold  told  Lord  Lau  lerdalo  that  he  was  [lerfectly  satisfied 
with  his  apidofiy,  providetl  their  seconds,  as  men  of  honor,  would  say  that 
he  ought  to  be  so,  which  they  both  did. 

"  roUTI.AM)     l'l,\(K,   } 

".Inly  7th,  ITU".',         S 
"This  is  a   moderate  and  unexajjtrerated    statement   of  the  dispute 
between  (icneral  Arnold  and  Lord  Lamlerdalo,  to  the  best  of  my  knowl- 
edge and  belief,  on  the  part  of  General  Arnold. 

"  Hawkk." 

Oil  the  sixth  of  July  Mrs.  Arnold  wrote  to  her  father, 
o'iviiit^  the  details  ot"  the  duel.  If  she  speaks  with  some 
pride  of  the  conduct  <d"  her  Inisbaiid,  and  colors  some  cir- 
ciinistaiices  in  his  favor,  it  will  be  forgiven  to  the  partiality 
of  a  devoted  wife. 

"  My  Belovf-I)  and  Rkspkc  tkd  Pauknt: 

"  The  anxiety  which  my  last  letter  mu.-l  haveoccasion'^d.  as  Tthon  men- 
tioned the  proliability  of  a  l)uers  takiisg  place  between  the  Karl  of  Laud- 
erdale and  (ieneral  Arnold.  1  am  happy  now  to  have  it  in  my  power  to 
relieve;  as  the  atfair  is  settled  most  honorably  for  the  (Jeneral,  and  his 
( onduct  upon  the  occasion  has  gained  him  great  api)lause.  The  circum- 
stances that  gave  rise  to  it  you  may  wish  to  hear:    Lord  Lauderdale 


5'!; 

*■.'. 

5>: 


382 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


(who  is  violent  in  the  opposition,  and  who  was  the  only  man  in  the  House 
of  Lords  who  voted  apaiiist  an  address  of  thanks  to  the  King,  upon  a 
lato  Proclamation),  in  an  attack  upon  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  respect- 
ing the  reform  in  Parliament,  is  said  to  have  used  the  following  expres- 
sions: '  That  he  did  not  know  any  instance  of  Political  Apostacy  equal 
to  the  Duke  of  Richmond's,  except  General  Arnold's,'  and  that  'the 
intended  Encampment  was  designed  to  overawe  the  inhaliitants  of 
the  Kingdom,  and  the  Metropolis  in  particular ;  and  prevent  a 
Reform  in  Parliament,  that  the  Duke  of  Richmond  was  the  most 
proper  person  he  knew  of  to  command  it.  General  Arnold  first 
(struck  off  the  list.'  Upon  the  General's  demanding  an  apology  for  this 
improvoked  attack  upon  his  character,  his  Lordship  positively  denied 
having  made  use  of  the  last  expression,  or  any  similar  to  it;  the  first  he 
acknowledged,  and  made  a  kind  of  apology  for  it;  but,  it  not  satisfying 
the  General,  he  drew  up  such  a  one  as  he  would  accept,  which  his  Lord- 
ship refused  to  sign. 

I  ord  Hawke  (who  is  a  most  respectable  Peer,  and  our  particular  friend) 
voluntarily  offered  his  services  upon  the  occasion;  and  as  the  matt«r 
could  not  be  amicably  settled,  his  Lordship  waited  upon  Lord  Lauder- 
dale, and  a  place  was  named  for  a  meeting.  The  time  appointed  was 
seven  o'clock  on  8unday  morning  last — Mr.  Charles  Fox,  as  second  to 
Lord  Lauderdale:  Lord  Hawke,  the  General's.  It  was  agreed  that  they 
should  fire  at  the  same  time,  upon  a  word  given,  which  the  General  did, 
without  effect.  Lord  L.  refused  to  fire,  saying  he  had  no  enmity  to  Gen- 
oral  Arnold.  He  at  the  same  time  refused  making  an  apology,  and  said 
the  General  might  fire  again,  if  he  chose.  This  was  impossible,  but  the 
General  desired  Lord  Hawke  to  tell  Mr.  Fox,  that  he  would  not  leave  the 
field  without  satisfaction;  and  that  if  Lord  Lauderdale  persisted  in  his 
refusal  of  giving  it  to  him,  either  by  an  apology  or  firing  again,  that  he 
should  be  under  the  necessity  of  using  such  expressions  to  him,  as  would 
oblige  him  to  do  the  latter.  Upon  this,  the  seconds  had  a  conference,  dur- 
ing which  tmie  Lord  Lauderdale  and  the  General  met;  when  he  told  his 
Lordship  that  he  did  not  come  there  to  convince  the  world  that  ho  dare 
fight,  but  for  satisfaction  for  the  injury  done  his  character;  and  thai  he  cer- 
tainly would  not  quit  the  field  without  it.  After  a  consultation  between 
Lord  L.  &  Mr.  Fox,  his  Lcruship  came  forward,  and  said  that  he  had  no 
enmity  to  General  Arnold — that  he  did  not  mean  to  asperse  his  character  or 
wound  his  feelings,  and  was  sony  for  what  he  had  said.  General  A.  said 
he  was  perfectly  satisfied  with  this  apology,  providrd  the  seconds,  as  men 
of  honor,  declared  he  ought  to  be  so,  which  they,  without  hesitation,  did. 
Before  they  left  the  gronnd.  Lord  Lauderdale  expressed  gi-eat  concern  at 
finding  that  I  had  been  made  unhappy,  and  begged  leave  to  wait  upon 


Ills   PATRIOTISM   AND   HIS   TREASON. 


383 


me,  to  niiike  an  apolo<?y.  A  variety  of  circnnistancos  combined  to  make 
me  acquainted  with  the  whole  transaction;  what  I  suH'ered  lor  near  a 
week  is  not  to  be  described;  the  suppression  of  my  feelings,  lest  I  should 
unman  the  fJeneral,  almost  at  last  proved  too  much  for  me;  and  for  some 
hours,  my  reason  was  dispaired  of.  I  was  confined  to  my  bed  for  some 
days  after,  but  am  now  so  much  better  that  I  shall  go  out  an  airing  this 
afternoon.  It  has  been  highly  gratifying  to  find  the  General's  conduct 
so  much  applauded,  which  it  has  been  universally,  and  particularly  by  a 
number  of  the  first  characters  in  the  Kingdom,  who  have  called  upon  him 
in  consequence  of  it.  Nor  am  I  displeased  at  the  great  commciidations 
bestowed  on  my  own  conduct  upon  this  trying  occasion.  I  wrote  you  a 
long  letter  about  ten  days  ago,  upon  the  subject  of  the  little  money  that 
has  been  received  as  a  provision  for  my  children,  which  letter  I  hope  you 
will  receive  safe.  I  intended  sending  a  duplicate,  but  am  not  at  present 
equal  to  copying  it.  I  mentioned  that  we  could  not,  in  the  Funds,  get 
above  4  per  cent,  for  money,  and  by  annuities,  insured,  not  more  than  6 
per  cent. ;  Expressed  the  great  anxiety  I  should  feel  until  something  was 
secured  to  my  children,  as  the  greatest  part  of  our  Income  depended  upon 
our  lives :  ( Ah !  how  lately  has  one  of  them  been  endangered )  and  entreated 
your  advice  and  assistance  in  the  disposal  of  it  to  advantage.  I  suggested  a 
wish  that  Mr.  Lea  would  employ  a  small  sum  in  business  for  the  advan- 
tage of  my  children,  but  left  the  matter  entirely  to  your  discretion,  and 
begged  that  if  you  wore  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  better  to  place  the 
money  in  Philadelphia,  and  that  it  would  there  produce  a  good  Interest, 
and  be  safe,  that  you  would  have  the  goodness  to  undertake  the  business 
for  me, — and  authorized  you  to  draw  upon  me,  if  liills  were  at  or  above 
Par,  on  Messrs  Dorset  &  Co.,  Fiankers,  New  Bond  street,  for  £2,000  ster- 
ling. I  shall  impatiently  wait  your  answer,  my  beloved  Papa,  as  we 
shall  not  think  of  disposing  of  the  money  otherways  till  then.  The  hon- 
orable and  advantageous  Peace  made  by  Lord  Cornwallis  in  the  East 
Indies,  has  afforded  great  pleasure  to  all  hi/al  siiJ>jects  here.  Many  peo- 
ple look  forward  with  dread  to  the  14th  of  July,  as  they  are  fearful  of 
Riots  on  that  day,  but  I  sincerely  hope  it  is  without  cause. — I  beg  to  be 
most  affectionately  remembered  to  all  the  family,  in  which  the  General 
begs  leave  to  join. 
"Believe  me,  my  dearly  beloved  Parent, 

"  Most  truly  Yours, 

"  M.  Arnold."  * 

In  a  letter  to  Richard,  the  second  son  of  General  Arnold  by 
liis  first  wife,  written  in  August,  1792,  Mrs.  Arnold  says: 

1    The  foregoing  is  copied  from  the  original,  iu  the  posgessiou  of  Edward  Ship- 
pen,  Esq ,  of  I'hllaaelphia. 


H'.  :  I 


y-.M 


;J84 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


"  I  was  greatly  distressed  about  six  weeks  ago  by  your  Father's  being 
coneern(!d  in  a  duel,  but  it  lias  ended  so  safely  and  honorably  to  him.  I 
am  happy  it  has  taken  place.  The  Earl  of  Lauderdale  cast  some  reflt't- 
tions  upon  his  political  character  in  the  House  of  Lords,  for  which  your 
Father  demanded  an  apology,  which  his  Lordship  re-fused  to  make.  On 
Sunday  morning,  the  1st  of  .July,  they  went  out  a  few  miles  from  town, 
with  their  Seconds  and  Surgeons — Lord  Hawke,  your  Father's,  and  Mr. 
Charles  Fox,  Lord  Lauderdah^'s. 

"  Lord  Lauderdale  received  your  Father's  fire,  but  refused  to  return  it, 
saying  he  had  no  enmity  to  him.  After  a  little  deliberation,  and  your 
Father's  declaring  that  he  would  not  quit  the  field  without  an  apology, 
his  Lordsliii)  mad(^  a  very  satisfactory  one.  Your  Father  has  gained  very 
great  credit  in  this  l)usiness,  and  I  fancy  it  will  deter  others  from  taking 
liberties  with  him.     *    *  " 

I  extract  the  followiiifi:  pnrnijraplis  from  a  letter  from 
Mrs.  Arnold  to  Tliclmrd,  dated  Jidy  28,  1793,  sliowiiii;  her 
deep  intere.st  in  his  welfare,  and  how  kindly  and  discreetly 
hhe  dischari'ed  the  duties  of  a  mother  towards  him: 

"  I  shall  always  be  happy,"  says  she,  "to  consider  you  as  a  son,  ■wnoae 
welfare  is  dear  to  me." 

"You  request,  my  dear  Richai'd,  my  influence  with  your  father  to  in- 
duce him  to  consent  to  your  marrying.  With  respect  to  him,  1  must  Ix-g 
not  to  interfere  ; — but  give  me  Icive,  as  a  friend  interested  for  your  hap- 
j)iness,  to  offer  you  my  advice.  I  should  by  no  means  wish  you  to  giv 
up  a  young  lady  to  whom  your  love  and  honor  are  engaged,  and  who, 
fiom  everything  I  can  hear,  is  worthy  of  your  affection.  But  by  the  love 
you  bear  her,  let  me  admonish  you  not  to  marry  her  till  you  are  enabled 
to  support  her  in  a  comfortable  style.  How  many  people  are  there  who 
are  for  years  engaged,  while  prudence  forbids  an  union,  who  afterwards 
come  together,  and  are  happier  for  their  self-denial,  till  fortune  smiled 
iipon  them.  You  are  particularly  fortunate  in  not  b  ing  severed  from 
the  object  of  your  atfections  ;  you  can  enjoy  her  society,  and  your  desire 
to  unite  yourself  to  her  will  stiuuilate  your  Industry. 

"  liy  precipitating  yourself  into  matrimony  till  you  are  established  in 
l)usiness.  you  would  prol)ably  render  yourself  and  the  object  of  your  re- 
gards miserable  ; — but  by  your  exertions,  a  short  time  may  make  a  mate- 
rial change  in  your  affairs,  and  you  will  then  be  enabled  to  marry  her, 

with  a  prospect  of  happiness,  and  with  the  approbation  of  your  friends. 
***♦*♦*** 

"  Your  affectionate,  &c." 


HI 


fr 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

ARNOLD'S  SERVICES  IN  THE  WEST  INDIES— HIS  DEATH. 

"  Seek  out— less  ofcen  sought  than  found— 
A  soldier's  grave,  for  thee  the  best." 

General  ARNOLD  IX  1794  Fits  OUT  \  Ship  for  the  West  Indies— ?nip  Lost— At 
Gavdaloupe-His  Danger— Escapes  TO  THE  English  Fleet— His  Services  to  the 
Government  in  the  West  Indies— Receivj  the  Thanks  op  the  Planters- 
Tub  King  Grants  to  Him  10,500  Acres  of  Canada  Lands  for  his  "Gallan- 
try," Ac— He  begs  the  Duke  of  York  for  Military  Service  Against  the 
French— His  Death. 

In  the  spring  of  1794,  General  Ariokl  purchased  a  shi]) 
for  the  purpose  of  going  to  tlie  West  Indies,  and  engaging 
in  trade  and  commerce. 

To  avoid  the  dangers  of  the  British  Channel,  ho  went  by 
land  to  Falmonth,  and  after  waiting  some  two  weeks  lor  the 
arrival  of  his  ship,  just  as  she  was  about  coining  into  port, 
he  fortunately  concluded  not  to  sail  in  her,  but  stepped  on 
board  the  packet,  ready  to  put  to  sea.  A  few  days  there 
after,  his  ship  with  a  valuable  cargo,  was  ca|»tiired  by  the 
French,  but  he  arrived  in  safety  at  St.  Kitto.'  In  a  letter 
to  Richard,  Mrs.  Arnold  says: 

"  I  am  now  in  a  state  of  most  extreme  misery,  from  the  report  of  your 
Father'H  being  a  prisoner  to  the  French  at  Point-a-Peter,  Gaiuliiloupe. 
It  is  contradicted  by  some  gentlemen  lately  from  St.  Kitto,  but  your 
Father's  las^  letter  to  ine,  being  of  the  first  of  June,  wherein  he  says  he 
shall  set-off  the  next  day  for  Point-a- Peter,  makes  it  but  too  probable, 

1.    Manuscript  letter  from  Mrs.  .\rnoId  to  Richard  Arnold,  dated  Aug.  17iH. 

25  (385) 


I  iil 


l#* 


1;^ 


386 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


ns  the  French  took  possesbion  of  that  Place  the  4th  of  June.  We  are  in 
hourly  expectation  of  its  re-capture,  till  I  hear  of  which  I  shall  not  know 
a  moment's  peace  of  mind."  * 

It  seems  that  early  in  June,  he  arrived  at  Point-a-Peter, 
with  about  live  thousand  pounds  in  cash,  with  which  to  buy 
sugar;  not  knowing  that  the  Island  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  French.  When  he  learned  that  the  French 
were  already  in  possession,  assuming  the  name  of  Anderson, 
lie  passed  for  an  American,  come  there  to  buy  a  cargo.  He 
knew  of  course,  that  if  his  rank  and  person  were  discovered, 
I'.e  would  be  taken  prisorer,  and  held  as  a  British  General. 
Not  daring  to  be  seen  in  the  town,  he  concealed  himself 
near  the  shore,  and  set  to  work  to  construct  a  raft  for  his 
escape.  The  French  fleet  lay  near  the  fortifications,  guard- 
ing the  island,  and  outside  of  the  French  lay  the  British 
fleet.  Waiting  for  a  favorable  juncture  of  wind  and  tide — 
as  darkness  closed  over  the  island  and  the  sea,  he  put  him- 
self afloat  on  his  frail  raft,  to  take  the  hazards  of  passing 
undiscovered  through  the  French  to  the  English  fleet." 
Without  a  single  attendant,  aided  by  the  tide  and  the  wind, 
he  rowed  silently  through  the  hostile  fleet,  and  although 
hailed  by  the  French  guard-boat,  he  at  length  reached  the 
deck  of  a  British  man-of-war,  and  was  taken  on  board. 
His  usual  boldness  and  readinesss  in  extricating  himself 
from  danger,  had  not  deserted  him,  and  he  was  able  to  ren- 
der the  English  great  service. 

It  was  not  long  beft)re  he  was  able  to  send  to  Mrs.  Arnold 
intelligence  of  his  escape  and  safe  arrival  on  board  the  Brit- 
isli  flag-ship. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1794,  was  born  William  Fitch,  the 
')-c.f  t-w  t :  ttfth  son  of  General  Arnold. 

In  the  same  letter  to  Richard,  from  which  I  have  already 
quoted,  Mrs.  Arnold,  alluding  to  the  capture  of  the  ship 


1.  Mftnuscript  letter,  Aug.,  1794. 

2.  Thu  Geutleniau's  Magazine,  Aug.,  1794. 


Vol.  LXIV.  p,  C86. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


387 


I 


Hi; 


and  cargo  before  referred  to,  and  other  losses,  says  :  "  T  am 
extremely  distressed  to  find  that  your  father  is  likely  to  be 
so  ill-rewarded  for  all  the  risks  he  has  run.  *  *  *  * 
There  seems  to  be  a  cruel  fatality  attending  all  his  exer- 
tions." 

Speaking  of  Henry,  the  younger  brother  of  Eichard,  she 
says  : 

" I  suppose  my  dear  Henry  is  long  ere  this  in  the  West  Indies;  I 
scarcely  know  whether  or  not  to  wish  it,  aa,  though  I  think  his  prospects 
in  going  very  good,  yet  the  fever  that  rages  there  proves  so  fatal  to  young 
people,  that  I  dread  his  falling  a  victim  to  it.    *    *    *  " 

She  recommends  Kichard,  tlien  at  New  Haven,  Connec- 
ticut, "not  to  meddle  with  the  politics  of  the  country,  and 
to  avoid  writing  to  any  one  on  the  subject."    She  adds  : 

"  We  have  not  heard  from  poor  Ben  (General  Arnold's  oldest  son  by 
his  first  wife)  for  a  long  time  past,  and  have  reason  to  fear  he  is  a  pris- 
oner, as  about  G,000  English  are  now  in  that  situation  in  France,  and 
those  who  previous  to  the  war  resided  there;  have  been  told  they  are  very 
well  treated,  but  I  think  I  have  now  got  things  in  a  train  to  get  certain 
information  of  him,  and  to  furnish  him  with  money. 

"  Should  you  wish  to  forward  me  your  certificate  and  draw  for  your 
half-pay,  I  will  attend  to  your  business.' 

"  Edward,  James  and  George  are  all  at  school,  and  coming  on  very 
well;  they  and  Sophia  send  then:  tender  love  to  you.  The  latter  is  re- 
markably handsome,  and  promises  to  make  a  very  fine  woman." 

"VVliile  in  the  "West  Indies  at  another  time,  engaged  in 
commerce,  General  Arnold  was  himself  taken  prisoner  by 
the  French,  and  although  not  known  as  a  British  officer,  he 
was  put  on  board  a  French  prison-ship.  He  learned  from 
a  sentinel  that  he  was  suspected  of  being  other  than  he  ap- 
peared, and  in  great  danger.  At  night  he  let  himself  down 
from  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  by  the  aid  of  some  planks, 
used  as  a  raft,  reached  a  small  boat,  in  which  he  escaped  to 
the  English. 

1.  Both  Richard  and  Henry  were  commissioned  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  as  lleuten- 
nius  of  cnvalry  In  the  American  Legion,  raised  by  General  Arnold,  and  were  now 
receiving  half- pay,  as  retired  otficere. 


111 
f  ;ii 


■]  '■' 


u, 


388 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


He  rendered  great  service  to  Sir  Charles  Grey,  command- 
ing on  that  station,'  in  consideration  whereof,  and  of  other 
services  to  the  government,  he  received  in  Augnst,  1705, 
from  Gilbert  Franklin,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
West  India  planters  and  merchants,  resolutions  of  the: 
Standing  Committee,  expressing  their  high  appreciation  and 
approbation  of  his  conduct  in  the  West  Indies,  and  the  wish 
that  he  might  be  further  employed  in  the  public  service. ' 

In  December,  1796,  General  Arnold  conceived  a  plan  for 
the  capture  by  the  British  of  the  Spanish  possessions  in  the 
West  Indies.  This  plan,  through  the  kindness  of  his  friend. 
Lord  Corn wallis,  was  laid  before  Mr.  Pitt,  then  Prime  Min- 
ister. I  have  now  before  me  the  draft  of  a  letter  to  Corn- 
wallis,  in  which  General  Arnold  says: 

1.  See  Gentleman's  Magazine,  Vol.  XC,  p.  670. 

2.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  resolution,  and  Gen.  Arnold's  reply  tothj  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee: 

"  Resnlved,  That  the  standing  committee  of  the  West  India  planters  and  mer- 
chants, beg  leave  to  return  him  (Gen.  A.)  their  thanks;  that  tliey  are  fully  sen- 
sible of  his  .services  in  the  West  Indies,  and  feel  themselves  particularly  obliBcil 
by  his  exertions,  at  the  request  of  the  commandur  in-chief,  which  were  uttcndecl, 
with  such  beneficial  effects,  in  covering  the  retreat  of  the  troops  at  Gaudaloupe,  and 
they  eann'^t  refrain  from  expressing  their  concern  at  his  having  quitted  the  Islands 
at  a  time  when  their  safety  is  in  the  utmost  hazard,  and  they  leg  leave  to  assure 
him  it  would  give  them  the  most  entire  satisfaction  to  (ind  he  was  again  in  a  situ- 
ation to  render  further  service  to  his  Majesty  in  that  part  of  the  world.'' 

"  Queen  Ann  .St.  E.,  Aug.  1st,  179r) 

"Sir— I  have'     l  the  honor  of  receiving  j'our  very  obliging  letter  of  this  day, 

enclosing  a  copy  of  a  resolution  of  the  standing  committee  of  the  West  India 

planters  and  mercbnnts,  expressive   of  their  apprecir.tion  of  my  conduct  in  the 

West  Indies,  and  a  wish  for  my  being  furthu.'  employed.    The  approbation  of  so 

very  respectable  a  body  of  gentlemen  cannot  fail  of  being  highly  gratifying  tome, 

and  1  beg  you  will  dome  the  favor  of  returning  them  my  sincere  thanks  for  the 

honor  they  have  done  me,  and  assure  them  that  nothing  would  afford  me  greater 

pleasure  than  having  an  opportunity  of  rendering  them  essential  service  in  the 

West  Indies. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  With  great  resp'Ct  and  esteem, 

"Sir,  your  most  obedient  ' 

"  And  humble  Servant, 


'  To  Gilbert  Frankliv, 
"  chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee 
"  Of  the  West  India  Planters  and  Merchants." 


"B.  Arnold, 


\i\\ 


niS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


389 


"  I  bofy  you  will  accept  my  thanks  for  your  friendly  attention  in  speak- 
ing to  Mr.  Pitt  on  the  subject  of  my  plan,  which  the  more  I  consider  it 
the  more  importiint  it  appears  to  me  in  its  consequences.  *  »  ♦  "i 
will  pledge  myself,  with  such  a  covering  fleet  as  1  have  mentioned,  and 
5,000  efl'ective  men,  to  begin  operations;  I  will  raise  so  forniidiible  an 
army  of  the  natives,  Creoles,  and  people  of  colour,  that  no  force  that  Spain 
has  there,  or  can  send  to  thai  country,  will  be  able  to  resist  or  prevent 
their  freeing  the  country  from  the  Spanish  Government.  Permit  me  to 
request  the  favor,  my  Lord,  should  there  ai)pear  a  favorible  opertunity 
to  carry  such  plan  into  etfect,  that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  remind 
Mr.  Pitt  of  it,  &  my  wishes  to  be  employed  in  it."  ^ 

In  the  following  year,  1797,  Arnold  addressed  a  letter  to 
Earl  Spencer,  of  the  British  cabinet,  in  which  he  says: 

"  Having  had  some  experience  in  conducting  naval  as  well  as  military 
affairs,  1  think  it  my  duty  at  this  alarniing  crisis,  to  tender  my  services 
to  your  Lordship,  to  be  emploje  1  as  you  may  think  proper.''  * 

In  1798,  the  King  of  Great  Britain  granted  to  General 
Arnold  and  to  his  family  13,400  acres  of  land,  to  be  selected 
from  the  Waste  Lands  of  the  Crown  in  Upper  Canada.  It 
is  recited  in  the  letter  of  the  Duke  of  Portland,  Secretary  of 
State,  to  President  Russell,  of  Canada,  that  "his  (Arnold's) 
very  gallant  and  meritorious  service  at  Gnadaloupe,  in  the 
])resent  war,"  has  induced  his  majesty  to  dispense  with  the 
condition  requiring  his  residence  in  Canada.' 

While  General  Arnold  was  in  the  West  Indies,  the  war 
between  Great  Britain  and  Prance  was  waged  with  great 

1.  Manuscript  Letter  of  Dec  2'j,  1700. 

2.  Manuscript  Letter  of  June  1,  17U7. 

3.  Manuscript  letter  from  the  Duke  of  Portland,  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home 
Department,  to  President  Uussell,  Canada,  dated— 

"  Wliiteliall,"  June  12,  1798,  in  which  he  savs  : 

"  His  (Arnold's)  very  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  Gaudeloupe,  in  the  pres- 
ent war,  has  induced  his  Majesty,  in  c<jnsequenceof  the  (ieneral's  situation  and  that 
of  his  family  here,  to  dispense  in  this  instance,  with  that  part  of  the  Koyal  instruc- 
tions, which  would  require  the  residence  of  the  General  and  that  of  his  family  in 
the  Province. 

"  You  will  therefore  make  out  the  grants  to  the  General  and  his  family,  on  the 
usual  terms  and  conditions  -that  of  residence  alone  excepted. 

"I  am,  &c., 

"  Portland." 


f 


ii 


iiin'<' 


Itl; 


11., 


jitai; 


390 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


vigor,  and  party  spirit  raided  in  England  witli  extreme  vio- 
lence. Great  excitement  prevailed,  and  when,  in  1798,  all 
England  was  arming  against  the  French,  the  martial  spirit 
of  Arnold  was  once  more  thoroughly  ronsed,  and  he  made 
a  last,  most  earnest  and  jtressing  appenl,  through  the  Duke 
of  York,  for  active  service.  Like  an  old  war-horse  when  he 
hears  the  sound  of  the  bugle,  he  was  again  fired  with  mili- 
tary ardor. 

lie  addressed  the  following  letter  to  his  Iloyal  Highness, 
the  Duke  of  York,  then  commanding  the  British  armies: 

"Gloucesteu  Place, 
"April  22, 1798. 
"Sin: 

"  At  this  important  crisis,  I  feel  it  a  duty  that  I  owe  both  to  the  pub- 
lic and  to  myself,  to  ott^i-  my  services  to  your  Royal  Highness  in  anyway 
that  I  can  be  most  useful  to  the  country. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be  most  Respectfully,  Sir, 

"  Your  Royal  Highness'  most  Obedient 

"  And  most  devoted  Humble  Servant, 

"  B.  Arnold.' 
"  His  Royal  Highness, 

"  TuE  Duke  of  Yohk, 

"&c.,  &c.,  &c." 

This  appeal  was  in  vain.  For  reasons  already  given,  he 
was  apprised  that  his  offer  of  service  could  not  be  accepted, 
and  he  sadly  and  bitterly  realized  that  he  could  no  longer 
hope  for  active  service  in  the  British  army. 

If  there  had  been  any  desperate  duty  involving  the  most 
hazardous  personal  exposure,  any  "  forlorn  hope  "  to  have 
been  led,  he  was  the  man,  and  in  the  mood,  to  have  led  it 
to  victory  or  death.  He  begged  for  service  in  the  "West 
Indies,  where  unacclimated  officers  were  dying  in  great  num- 
bers from  disease.  He  would  have  gladly  welcomed  death  on 
any  field  of  battle.     He  was  now  made  to  feel  more  keenly 

1.    The  original  draft  of  the  letter  is  before  me,  furnished  by  Rev.  Edward  Glad- 
win Aruold. 


!M 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


891 


M 


than  ever,  the  full  extent  of  his  sacrifice,  his  blunder  and 
his  crime.  Ileturning  from  an  unsticcessful  ])er8onal  appli- 
cation at  the  war-office,  he  said  to  his  wife,  "They  will  not 
give  me  a  chance  to  seek  a  soldier's  death." 

"With  a  crushed  heart,  he  felt  the  utter  ruin  of  all  his 
ambitious  hopes. 

"Oh,  now,  forever, 

•  •  *  «  <K  « 

Varcwcll,  the  plumed  troop,  and  the  big  wars. 
That  miiko  ambition  virtue!    0,  farewell! 
Farewell,  the  neighing  steed,  and  the  shrill  trump, 
The  spirit-stirring  drum,  the  ear  piercing  fife. 
The  royal  banner,  and  all  quality, 
Pi-ide,  pomp  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war. 

Othello's  occupation 's  gone!  " 

From  this  time  on  to  his  death,  he  was  a  changed  man. 
lie  lingered  after  this  blow  for  about  two  years,  but  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life  he  was  subject  to  periods  of  moody 
melancholy  and  deep  dejection.  lie  sought  excitement  in 
desperate  adventures,  to  restore  his  shattered  fortunes. 

Against  the  advice  and  entreaties  of  his  wife,  he  was  active 
in  fitting  out  privateers  against  France,  involving  large  ex- 
penditures and  great  hazards.  The  little  that  is  known  of 
the  details  of  these,  his  last  years,  is  gathered  from  the 
letters  of  his  wife  and  children.  Whatever  indignities  he 
received  abroad,  whatever  of  regret,  or  remorse  he  suffered, 
his  wife  and  children  did  all  that  was  possible  to  soothe  and 
comfort  a  bitterly  disappointed  and  unhappy  man  ;  and  in 
their  perfect  union  and  affection,  and  in  their  devotion  to 
him,  he  found  his  best  consolation  for  his  many  troubles. 
His  elder  sons  were  being  educated  at  the  government  mili- 
tary school.  Earl  Cornwallis  had  already  manifested  his 
kind  interest  in  their  l)ehalf. 

In  December,  1709,  Arnold's  extreme  solicitude  to  secure 
for  his  son  George,  then  a  lad  of  twelve,  a  place  in  the  In- 


;]02 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


I 


(lia  service,  induced  him  to  write  to  Lord  Cornwallis  l)Of^- 
^'in^  his  further  aid.' 

This  apjieal  was  not  in  vain.  Mrs.  Arnold,  writinpj  to 
lier  step-sons  in  Canada,  sa^'s:  "George  has  hitely  been  ad- 
mitted into  tlie  Koyal  Academy,  through  the  interest  of  tlie 
Marcjuis  Cornwallis,  and  is  educating  tor  India." 

In  one  of  his  northern  campaigns  in  America,  between 
1775  and  1777,  General  Arnold  became  the  father  of  an 
illegitimate  son.  The  circumstances  of  his  association  with 
the  mother— how  much  of  romance  and  sentiment  and  what 
of  wrong — are  all  involved  in  obscurity.  I  can  only  state 
that  in  all  the  vicissitudes  of  his  life,  and  amidst  all  his 
changing  fortunes,  in  adversity  as  well  as  in  prosperity,  this 
son  was  never  forgotten.  Provision  was  made  for  his  main- 
tenance and  education,  and  he  was  remembered  in  General 
Arnold's  will.  After  his  marriage,  the  conduct  of  General 
Arnold  in  his  domestic  relations  M'as  without  reproach,  and 
for  more  than  twenty  years  of  married  life,  his  devotion  and 
fidelity  were  such  as  to  secure  from  Mrs.  Arnold  the  utmost 
confidence  and  affection.  She  always  spoke  of  him  as  the 
best  of  husbands,  and  it  was  an  incident  of  her  life,  which 
illustrates  her  noble  character,  that  she  herself  took  care 


1.   The  foUowlng  Is  the  letter  of  General  Arnold : 

"  London,  Dec.  10, 1700. 
'•  My  Loud  : 

'•  Nothing  but  my  very  great  confidence  in  your  Lordship's  goodneas,  which  I  have 
exvcricnced  on  so  many  occasions,  and  my  extreme  solicitude  to  mal<e  provision 
for  my  son,  would  Induce  me  to  again  talic  tlie  liberty  of  troubling  your  Lordship. 

"He  is  extremely  anxious  to  go  to  India,  and  having  failed  in  my  endeavours  to 
]irocure  him  a  writership,  he  has  for  some  time  pa^t  been  qualifying  himself  as  an 
engineer,  in  which  he  has  made  great  proficiency,  and  proposes  spending  the  win- 
ter in  studying  with  the  master  of  the  Academy  at  Woolwich,  and  has  no  doubt,  in 
a  few  months,  of  procuring  their  tcstamonials  of  his  being  perfectly  qualified  for 
the  situation.  Your  Lordship  was  once  kind  enough  to  ofler  him  a  L'adetship  to 
India,  and  the  offer  has  lately  been  repeated  by  a  friend  here,  which  he  will  accept 
provided  ho  can  be  assured  of  the  respect  with  which  1  have  the  honor  to  bo 
"  Your  Lordship's 

"  Most  obedient  and  humble  Servant, 

"B.  Arnold. 
"  Lord  Cornwallis." 

—'Historical  Magazine,'  Aug.,  1870,  Vol.  VlII,  No.  2,  p.  HO. 


\'i    i 


IIIS  PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


303 


tliat  the  provision  made  by  lier  liusbaiKl  in  his  will,  for  tliis 
son,  was  6C'rui»ulously  carried  into  ellect,  even  at  the  expense 
of  her  own  more  happy  and  fortunate  children. 

In  May,  17i)(),  writing  to  her  father,  Mrs.  Arnold  says: 

"  I  am  oxtroint'ly  iiiipationt  for  the  arrival  of  your  picture,  which  1  hope 
Ih  on  its  way;  you  could  not  have  bestowed  upon  ine  so  vahiahle  a  j;ift.' 

"  Rpi)inin>?  is  useU'ss,  but  it  is  surely  a  hard  lot,  to  be  separated  from 
all  my  relations:  do  not  sutt'er  absence  to  wcalcen  your  atl'ection  for  me, 
and  believe,  that  thoufjh  fate  has  deprived  me  of  the  happiness  of  con- 
tributing to  the  comfort  of  your  later  days,  I  would  sacrifice  almost  my 
life  to  render  them  easy  and  free  from  care  and  pain."  ' 

As  time  passed  on,  the  bitter  disappointments,  cares  and 
embarrassments  of  General  Arnold  ])re6sed  heavily  upon 
liim,  and  his  strong  physique  and  liardy  frame  began  to 
show  signs  of  breaking  up.  lie  became  more  and  more  the 
subject  of  nervous  disease — sleep  fled  from  him,  and  on  the 
1-tth  of  June,  1801,  he  died  at  his  residence  in  London, 
aged  sixty  years.  A  letter  of  a  friend  of  the  family  to  Chief 
Justice  Shippen,  gives  some  details  of  the  event: 

"  It  is  the  request  of  my  tenderly  beloved  friend,  your  deeply  afflicted 
daughter,  that  I  should  inform  you  of  the  melancholy  chang^e  which  has 
laken  place  in  her  situation  by  the  death  of  her  ever  dear  and  honored 
husband.  General  Arnold  died  on  the  14th  inst.  (June),  at  half-past  six 
in  '»  morninj?.  His  health  has  been  in  a  declining  state  for  several 
moniiis,  but  the  danger  which  awaited  him  his  poor  wife  was  not  fully 
aware  of,  Irom  the  flattering  assurances  constantly  given  her  by  the  I'hy- 
sician  who  attemled.         ♦        ♦        ♦ 

"  My  sister  and  myself  were  with  Mrs.  Arnold  when  her  husband  ex- 
pired, and  we  shall  not  be  separated  from  her  for  some  time,  and  tliere  is 
not  any  attention  which  friendship  and  affection  can  suggest  to  soothe 
and  soften  her  sorrows,  which  shall  be  omitted. 

•*  She  evinces  upon  this  occasion,  as  you  know  she  has  done  upon  many 
trying  ones  before,  that  foi'titude  and  resignation,  which  a  superior  and 
well-regulated  mind  only  is  capable  of  exerting."* 

1.  A  portrait  of  Chief  Justice  Shippen,  by  Stuart. 

2.  Manuscript  letter  from  Mrs.  A.  to  her  father. 

3.  Manuscript  letter  of  Mrs.  Ann  Fitch,  to  Chief  Justice  Shippen. 


fif 


394 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


Om  the  first  of  July  thereafter,  Mrs.  Arnohl  wrote  t<» 
Richard  and  Henry,  announcing  their  father'a  death.  She 
says: 

"  Your  (loar  Father,  whoso  lonjf  dt'cliiiinflf  Htate  of  hoalth  you  have  boon 
ocquiiiiitcHl  with,  \h  no  mon>.  In  liini  his  iiiniily  havt;  lost  an  att'ectionntc 
husljaiul,  Father  and  friend:  and  to  his  exertions  to  make  a  provision  for 
them  may  be  attribub.'d  the  loss  of  his  life.  His  liust  unsuccessful  sptscula- 
tion,  with  the  mortification  and  distress  attendinjf  it,  jm'ssed  heavily  upon 
him.  and  lor  many  montiis  before  his  death,  he  never  lay  two  hours  of  a 
night  in  his  bed,  and  he  had  every  lin-adful  nervous  symptom,  attended 
with  great  difficulty  of  breathing,  that  can  possibly  be  imagined.  I  had 
Mattered  myself  that  a  favorable  changi'  in  his  circumstances,  wiiicli  would 
restore  peace  to  his  mind,  and  enable  hi.ia  to  get  a  horse,  ami  go  into  the 
country,  and  resume  his  favorite  exercise  of  horse-back  riding,  would 
renovate  his  health,  but  the  wished-for  change  never  took  placi',  but  on 
the  contrary  he  had  heavy  demands  upon  him  from  ditl'er.'nt  quarters. 

*'  On  the  8th  of  June  he  became  much  worse,  and  suffered  greatly  for 
several  days,an(l  on  Sunday, the  14th, at  halfpast  six  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
expired  without  a  groan.  For  same  days  previous  to  his  death  he  had 
but  short  intervals  of  reason,  when  the  distressed  situation  of  his  family 
preyed  greatly  on  his  mind,  and  he  was  constantly  iuiplorin<,'  blessings 
upon  them."* 

At  the  same  time,  Mrs.  Arnold  wrote  to  General  ArnoldV 
sister,  Hannah,  givin<^  an  account  of  her  husband's  last  sick- 
ness and  death,  and  saying  that  in  his  last  hours,  she  (the 
sister)  was  not  forgotten;  and  she  adds: 

"  His  last  moments  were  embittered  by  apprehensions  of  the  distress 
which  you  might  sutfer,  if,  as  he  feared,  his  Estate  might  be  lift  in  a 
condition  to  render  the  continuance  of  your  pension  impossible;  but  1 
assure  you  that  so  long  as  my  own  pension  from  the  government  is  paid, 
or  80  long  as  1  have  the  means  from  any  source,  your  pension  shall  be  con- 
tinued." 

It  is  said  that  in  those  varying  moments  of  consciousness 
and  delirium  which  often  immediately  precede  death,  the 
mind  is  more  apt  to  recall  the  earlier  rather  than  the  later 
scenes  and  incidents  of  life.     This  I  have  reason  to  believe 


1.   Manuscript  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  to  Richard  and  Henry,  dated  July  1,  801. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM   AND    HIS   TREASON. 


395 


was  true  in  the  cftse  of  (ieneml  Arnold.  It  will  l)c  reinein- 
berecl  that  when  at  West  I'uint,  on  the  morning  of  his 
flight,  on  hearing  of  Andre's  capture,  Arnold  was  at  break- 
fast at  his  head-cjuarters,  on  the  Hudson,  lie  had  expected 
W^ashington  to  breakfast  with  him,  and  (.olonel  Hamilton, 
the  aid  of  Washington,  and  others  were  at  his  table,  iio 
was  in  the  full  uniform  of  a  Major-CJeneral  of  the  Conti- 
nental army.  It  was  in  this  uniform  that  he  escaped  to  the 
Vulture;  it  was  in  this  dress  (for  lie  had  no  other  clothes 
with  him)  that  he  arrived  in  Kew  York.' 

This  uniform,  associated  with  his  military  life  before  liis 
desertion,  ho  carefully  i)reserved,  and  took  with  him  to 
England.  Tradition  says,  that  as  death  drew  near,  after 
one  of  those  short  intervals  of  reason,  "when  the  distresswd 
condition  of  his  family  preyed  greatly  (,n  his  mind,"  and 
he  was,  as  Mrs.  Arnold  writes,  "imj)loring  blessings  upon 
his  children,"  his  mind  wandered  again,  and  in  inuigination 
he  seemed  to  he  lighting  his  battles  over,  lie  called  for  his 
old  uniform,  and  desired  to  put  it  on,  saying,  "  Bring  me,  I 
beg  you,  the  epaulettes  and  sword-knots  which  "Washington 
gave  me  ;  let  me  die  in  my  old  American  uniform,  then:  ' 
form  in  which  I  fought  my  battles." 

"  God  forgive  me,"  he  muttered,  "  for  ever  putting  on 
any  other." 

Thus,  in  bitter  distress,  in  6elf-rej)roach,  in  poverty,  died 
Benedict  Arnold. 

His  exam])le  will  never  produce  another  traitor!  There 
is  no  character  in  history,  nor  is  there  any  in  i)oetry  or  fic- 
tion, better  calculated  to  teach  and  illustrate  the  beauty  and 
the  wisdom  of  fidelity,  and  the  infamy  and  the  folly  of 
treachery,  than  his.  Oh,  chief  auu)ng  the  virtues,  is  fidelity 
based  on  integrity.     "Faithful  to  his  trust!"     "Faithful 

1.    See  his  letter  to  Washington,  asking  that  his  clothes  raiuht  be  seut  to  him, 
and  ofi'ering  to  pay  for  them,  heretofore  quoted. 


396 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


unto  death  !"  "  Fjiithfnl  and  true  !"  These  arc  tlie  no- 
blest words  in  all  the  le«i;ends  of  chivalry.'  General  Arnold 
did  well,  after  betrayini;  his  trust  and  deceiving  AVashing- 
ton,  to  erase  from  his  family  arms  the  word  "  Glory,"  and 
write  in  jjlace  of  it  '■'■  Despair.''^ 

In  doing  this,  he  indicated  how  gladly  he  would  have 
washed  out  his  guilt  with  his  own  blood. 

All  Americans  have  been  taught  to  think  of  him  only  f 
a  traitor.  I  n])pcal  to  a  just  and  generous  people  to  re- 
member that  he  was  ?i  patriot  also  ;  that  no  one  ever  shed 
his  blood  more  freely  for  the  liberties  of  his  country,  and 
that  it  was  AVashington  who  declared  no  more  brave,  active, 
spirited,  no  more  sensible  officer  '^  tilled  any  place  "  in  the 
lievolutioiuiry  .army. 

In  regard  to  his  character,  I  have  little  to  add  to  what  has 
been  said  in  the  progress  of  this  work.  As  a  soldier  he 
exhibited  a  superb  courage,  that  was  never  surpassed,  and 
which  made  him  the  idol  of  his  men.  lie  possessed  an  en- 
durance, a  capacity  for  leadership,  an  ability  for  organiza- 
tion, a  power  over  men,  a  fertilit}  of  invention,  a  coolness 
in  danger,  and  a  quickness  of  perception,  which  marked  him 
as  among  the  best,  if  not  the  very  best  fightiUj^  general  of 
the  Revolutionary  war.' 

He  was  a  man  of  violent  passions,  and  impatient  of  con- 
trol, but  towards  his  friends,  his  mother,  his  sister,  his  wife, 
his  children,  his  heart  was  gentle  and  most  aflfectionate,  and 
he  died,  as  Mrs.  Arnold  says,  a  sacrifice  to  his  efforts  in 
their  behalf,  and  "  imploring  blessings  "  upon  them.  He 
was  extravagant  and  improvident  in  his  habits,  but  liberal 
and  generous  to  his  friends.     He  was  proud,  and  very  sensi- 

1.  "  Fidelete  est  dc  Dim ." 

2.  The  following  extravagant  eulogy  is  by  nn  English  writer: 

"  Arnold  displaycil  more  real  miHinry  genius  and  inspiration,  than  all  the  gener- 
als put  logeiher,  on  both  (iides.  engaged  in  the  wr.r,  with  the  inost  undaunted  per- 
sonal courage."— A'/ii  hl's  UUlory  qf  Lngland,  Vol.  I,  S-  S.p.  43U. 


HIS   TATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


307 


tive  to  ]icroonal  wrongs,  and  I  repeat  what  I  said  early  in 
this  work,  if  AVashington  had  been  invested  with  the  un- 
controlled power  of  appointments  and  promotion  in  his 
army,  histor}'  would  never  have  recorded  "  traitor"  opposite 
the  name  of  Benedict  Arnold. 

The  i'ollowing  extract  from  a  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnold  to 
liichard  and  Henry,  her  step-sons,  in  Canada,  written  not 
long  after  their  father's  death,  shows  the  affection  which 
pervaded  the  family,  and  their  reverence  for  his  memory. 
S[)eaking  of  her  management  of  his  atl'airs,  she  says: 

"  My  conduct  has  been  dictated  l.>y  regard  to  yon,  respect  to  your  dear 
Father's  memory,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  act  with  uprightness,  feeling 
and  tenderness.  Although  I  had  much  to  bo  thankful  for  during  your 
Father's  lifetime,  I  had  much  to  struggle  with;  the  solicitud>  bo  fi'lt  to 
make  a  handsome  provision  for  all  his  family,  often  involved  him  in  ditfi- 
culties,  and  eventually  proved  the  cause  of  his  death.         »         *         ». 

"  But  the  solidtuile  was  in  itself  so  praisewortliy,  and  so  disinterested, 
and  never  induced  him  to  dvvUite  from  rectitude,  that  his  children  should 
ever  reverence  his  memory;  and  for  myself,  I  am  determined  in  my  con- 
duct to  them,  to  do  everything  which  I  think  would  be  pleasing  to  him, 
could  he  view  the  actions  of  those  he  has  left  behind." 

It  seems  that  his  sons  in  Canada,  in  ignorance  of  their 
father's  embarrassments,  had  without  much  consideration, 
uttered  some  complaints  against  him,  which,  wheii  they 
came  to  understand  all  the  tacts,  pained  them,  and  for  which 
they  bitterly  reproached  themselves. 

Mrs.  Arnold's  reply  to  their  self-reproaches  is  so  beauti- 
ful, and  the  sentiments  expressed  so  noble,  that  although  in 
a  private  family  letter,  I  cannot  forbear  quoting  a  few  para- 
graphs.    She  says: 

"  It  is  certainly  greatly  to  be  regretted,  that  you  so  little  know  your 
dear  Father's  heart,  his  motives,  and  embarrassed  circumstances, "as  to  be 
induced  to  write  to  him  in  a  style  to  wound  and  distress  him,  and  now  to 
cause  bitter  self-reproach  to  yourselves — but  as  tlie  evil  is  now  irremedia- 
ble I  beg  you  will  not  sutfer  it  to  corrode  your  future  happiness.  "We  are 
all  frail  mortals,  and  sincere  repentance  is  the  first  step  to  amendiueut. 


398 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


"Your  dear  Father  fo  gave  and  blessod  you.  God  will  accopt  your 
contrition,  and  I  will  not  only  destroy  tiie  proofs  in  my  possession,  of 
your  misguided  judgment,  but  will  endeavor  to  attribute  it  to  the  distress 
of  your  minds  at  the  time,  and  as  much  as  possible  lose  all  recollections 
of  it.  It  will  afford  me  sincere  pleasure  to  be  of  service  to  you,  not  only  as 
the  children  of  him  whom  1  loved,  but  I  trust  from  your  future  conduct; 
at  present  my  means  of  befriending  anybody  are  but  slender,  but  if  I  live, 
my  Father  and  my  sons  may  enable  me  better  to  gratify  the  feelings  of 
my  heart. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  have  had  so  much  to  encounter  in  settling  your  farms, 
and  that  you  are  still  struggling  with  many  hardships." 

She  recommends  "  perseverance,  and  in  a  little  while," 
she  says,  "you  will  enjoy  the  fruits  of  your  hard  labor. " 

She  closes  this  part  of  her  letter  by  saying,  "  Should  for- 
tune smile  upon  the  exertions  of  my  excellent  sons,  you  will 
iind  in  them  Brothers.''^  ^ 

This  assurance  was,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter,  abundantly 
verified. 

1.    Manuscript  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnold  to  Richard  and  Henry  Arnold. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 


THE  FAMILY  OF  GENERAL  ARNOLD. 


"1  have  rescued  ynnr  Father's  memory  from  disrespect  by  paying  all  his  just 
debts."— ^Vm.  Arnold  to  her  children. 


Mrs  Arnold's  Executive  Ability— She  Settles  General  Arnold's  Estate,  and 
Pays  HIS  Deuts— Educates  her  (.hilduen,  and  Procures  for  her  Sons  Commis- 
sions IN  THE  Army— Her  Death— The  Arnold  Family  in  Canada—'  Poor 
BisN's"  Death  from  a  Wound  Keceived  in  Battle— The  Family  in  England 
—All  the  Sons  in  the  Pudlic  Service— James  Appointed  Military  aid  to  the 
Kino— Attains  the  Bask  of  Lieut.  General— A  Grandson  Killed  at  .-ebas- 

.  TOPOL. 

The  extracts  from  the  letters  of  Mrs,  Arnold  already 
given,  and  her  conduct  already  detailed,  .show  that  with  lier 
affectionate  heart,  her  clear  good  sense,  and  almost  nnerring 
judgment,  she  united  great  executive  ability.  General 
Arnold  left  his  affairs  in  a  very  embarrassed  and  complicated 
condition  :  heavy  debts  had  been  pressing  upon  him,  rude 
creditors  and  unscrupulous  claimants  had  been  sinnoying 
him,  and  his  means  were  very  limited. 

In  delicate  health,  with  voun<;  chiklren  demandinj?  her 
care,  Mrs.  Arnold  was  now  to  assume  the  heavv  burden  of 
settling  his  estate.  In  her  letter  to  Richard  and  Ilenry,  an- 
nouncing their  father's  death,  she  says,' 

",I  shall  send  you  a  copy  of  your  Father's  will,  if  I  can  possibly  copy  it, 
by  this  opportunity;  if  not,  in  a  few  clays;  I  have  not  yet  proved  it,  but 
shall  as  soon  aa  I  am  able  to  return  to  town." 

].   Manuscript  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  July  1, 1801. 

(399) 


400 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


IIo  had  made  her  his  executrix,  and  left  his  estate  in  her 
hands.     She  says: 

"  Your  Father  was  obliged  to  sell  the  lease  of  the  house  before  his 
death,  to  make  provisions  forthe  payment  of  his  accepted  bills,  not  having 
it  in  his  power  to  raise  the  money  in  any  other  way.     *    * 

"I  have  not  yet  heard  from  Edward:  James  is  in  Egypt  (in  the  army), 
exposed  to  the  greatest  danger,  but  he  writes  in  good  spirits:  your  sister 
is  in  great  affliction  and  ill-health.  In  short,  we  are  a  wretched  family, 
and  in  addition  to  our  severe  loss,  we  shall  have  pecuniary  distress  to 
contend  with." 

I  cannot  describe  the  difficulties  with  which  this  heroic 
woman  struggled  so  well,  as  by  quoting  from  her  own  letters. 
She  had  proved  the  will,  and  assumed  the  responsibility  of 
executrix,  and  in  November,  1802,  she  writes  to  llichard 
and  Henry,  saying: 

"  I  have  just  received  your  affectionate  letters  of  June  28th,  nnd  am 

much  obliged  for  the  kind  concern  you  express  for  me  and  my  children. 
«    «    « 

"  I  very  early  infomied  you,  that  in  undertaking  the  settlem.ent  of  the 
most  troublesome  business  that  ever  devolved  upon  a  female,  I  had  not 
been  actuated  in  the  smallest  degree  by  the  hope  of  benefiting  myself  or 
my  children ;  that  1  was  induced  to  do  it  only  from  respect  to  your 
Father's  memory — the  certainty  that  I  could  do  more  justice  to  oHiers 
than  any  other  person  could,  and  the  wish  to  prevent  all  private  letters 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  strangers." 

After  describing  the  dangerous  effects  of  her  exertions 
upon  her  health,  she  says: 

"  But  thanks  to  the  goodness  of  God,  I  am  restored  to  serenity  and 
the  power  of  exertion,  and  I  shall  perseveringly  go  on  in  the  arduous  task 
I  have  undertaken;  the  only  recompense  will  be  the  consciousness  that  I 
have  done  my  duty. 

"  I  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  parting  with  my  furniture,  wine, 
and  many  other  comforts  provided  for  me  by  the  indulgent  hand  of  affec- 
tion; and  have  by  these  sacrifices  paid  all  the  a sceHo i netl  dvhta,  within 
a  few  hundred  pounds,  and  hope  to  be  enabled  to  dischnrge  the  remain- 
der, and  to  pay  a  part  of  the  legacies,  provided  a  deniiind  to  a  large 
amount,  miule  by  a  Sireih  for  the  detention  of  his  Vessel,  is  not  substan- 
tiated.    1  have  a  hint  that  this  has  been  decided  against  us;  if  so,  1  have 


HIS    rATRIOTISM    AXD    HIS   TREASON. 


401 


tilt?  inortificiition  of  knowing'  that  neither  myself  nor  my  chililn-n  will 
ever  luive  the  value  of  a  guinea  from  their  clear  Father's  i)ropi'rty.  ami 
that  even  the  uncommon  liberality  of  my  Sons  in  pivinjr  up  tlieir  pen- 
sions for  the  use  of  the  family,  has  been  of  no  avail.  But  tliesi;  things 
are  wisely  ordained  by  the  Almighty  (or  some  good  purpose,  and  His  jus- 
tice and  mercy  we  cannot  doubt.  A  few  months  will  bring  things  near 
to  a  close,  when  I  will  give  you  every  particular. 

"While  I  have  the  means  of  preventing  it,  I  will  never  suffer  the  sis- 
ter of  my  husband  to  want,  and  shall  supply  her  from  my  own  little  in- 
come with  wliat  is  necessary  for  her.  1  approve  highly  of  her  residing 
with  you  in  future.         *        * 

'■  My  dear  Edward  is  one  of  the  most  noble  of  j-ouths;  he  writes  san- 
guinely  of  his  prospects  in  India;  from  his  pay  he  insists  upon  taking 
upon  liimself  the  entire  expense  of  little  William's  education;  he  had 
before  made  over  his  pension  irrevocably  to  his  sister.  Dear  James  is 
equally  gi.'nerous  and  disinterL'sted,  and  is  now  living  with  great  ditticulty 
upon  his  pay,  that  his  pension  may  be  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  fam- 
ily. My  dear  girl  is  all  that  is  amiable  and  excellent,  and  George  and 
William  promise  fair  to  enmlate  the  example  of  their  elder  brothers. 
Such  children  compensate  lor  a  thousand  ills." 

In  the  same  letter  she  writes  in  rerjard  to  tlie  lands  in 
Canudii,  wiiich  had  been  granted  to  (reneral  Arnold  and  his 
I'ainilj.  He  had  anthorizud  his  sons,  llichard  and  llenrv, 
to  locate  these  lands,  an  authority  confirmed  by  Mrs.  Ar- 
nold after  her  hushand's  death.  She  now  asks  them ''to 
do  everything  in  their  power  to  get  them  located  in  the  best 
sitnations  and  on  the  I)e8t  terms  possible.  ''  All  necessary 
e.xpenses  1  will  thankfully  repay.'' 

"  Your  poor  Father  thought  these  lands  an  object,  and  expanded  a 
great  deal  of  interest  and  trouble  in  pmcuring  thi'ui.  Everything  de- 
pends on  their  judicious  location.  *  *  » 

"  I  am  now  living  in  a  very  small  house  in  Rryanston  Strci-t.  using 
furniture  purchased  from  Carlow  (a  servant),  who  is  now  a  more  inde- 
pendant  woman  than  her  mistress.  *  *  *  ^jy  jv^ther  is  very 
good  to  me;  but  for  his  aid,  I  should  have  suHercd  still  more  wretched- 
ness. He  and  my  Sisters  are  very  desirous  of  my  going  to  reside  with 
them,  but  my  anxiety  to  get  your  little  brothers  on  in  life,  will  d"prive 
ine  of  this  gratification.  1  have  placed  Gjorge  at  the  New  Uoyal  ISIili- 
tary  College,  to  which  he  was   appointjd   (through  the   interest   of  the 

20 


402 


LIFE    OF   BENEDICT    ARNOLD. 


Marquis  Comwallis)  by  tlio  India  Company,  who  will  pay  half  thn  ox- 
pcnscs  of  his  education,  ho  being"  designed  for  their  Service.  It  is  a  most 
excellent  Seminary,  and  embraces  every  part  of  education  necejjsary  to 
to  form  the  soldier  and  the  pentleman. 

"  I  shall  write  to  your  aunt  by  this  packet."  ' 

In  another  letter  she  says: 

"  I  have  been  so  fortunate,  through  the  interest  of  the  Marquis  rom- 
wallis,  to  get  George  into  the  Koyal  Military  College,  nominated  by  tin; 
East  India  Company,  who  defray  half  the  expense,  which  is  ninety  guineas 
per  annum.  They  (the  boys)  are  taught  everything  that  can  form  the 
soldier  and  the  gentleman,  riding,  fencing,  and  every  other  accomplish- 
ment, with  tlic  Oriental  languages,  which  is  very  important,  and  brings 
them  into  much  notice. 

"George's  character  stands  very  high." 

In  July,  1803,  this  admirable  mother  writes  to  her  "  Dear 
Sons  "  in  Canada,  savinii;:  '•  I  have  written  you  verv  I'uliv 
respecting  the  Canada  lands,  and  sent  yon  a  power  of  attor- 
ney to  act  in  the  business."  She  speaks  of  her  greatly  im- 
])aired  health,  and  says  she  was  to  "have  a  consultation  of 
Physicians  two  days  hence.     *    *     *  " 

"  God  knows  how  it  (her  disease)  will  terminate;  I  am  endeavouring  to 
Itropare  my  mind  for  th(^  worst,  but  when  I  refl.'ct  upon  the  unprotect(>d 
state  of  my  children,  whoso  welfare  so  greatly  depends  upon  my  exer- 
tions for  them,  I  am  almost  deprived  of  that  fortitude  so  essential  'o  my 
own  support.        *        *        * 

"  I  have  from  time  to  time  given  you  an  account  of  your  dear  Father's 
affairs.  I  have  nearly  accomplished  what  I  am  convinced  no  other  per- 
son could  have  done — the  payment  of  all  the  just  debts. 

"  I  have  lately  had  several  dmnands  mailo  upon  mo  on  account  of  the 
VUr  Prirati'o-ft,  which  1  know  not  whether  I  can  resist,  or  even  if  thi>y 
are  just. 

"  The  claim  of  the  Swede  for  the  detention  of  his  vessel  and  total  loss 
of  his  cargo,  is  in  the  Court  of  Admiralty. 

"  You  can  form  not  the  smallest  idea  of  the  trouble  and  perplexity  in 
which  I  have  been  involved.  The  only  reward  is,  the  "\aving  saved  you 
from  distress,  and  the  gratification  of  having  paid  all  your  dear  Father's 
just  debts,  so  that  no  reflection  on  that  score  can  ever  be  cast  upon  his 
memory. 

1.    Manuscript  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  \ov.  5, 1802. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS   TREASON. 


403 


to 

V- 

mv 


10 

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in 
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r's 
lis 


"  I  am  uneasy  at  not  hcarinp  from  your  aunt  for  a  long  time;  T  am 
fearful  she  may  l)e  in  distress  for  money.  I  have  wi'itten  repeatedly  to 
lier,  and  requested  her  to  draw  on  mo  for  twenty- four  pounds,  which  T 
will  endeavor  to  allow  her  annually. 

"  I  have  heard  lately  from  Kdward,  who  had  just  had  a  severe  action 
with  the  army  of  one  of  the  native  chiefs.  James  is  now  on  his  pasaapre 
to  the  West  Indies;  Oeorge  is  at  the  Koyal  Military  school,  and  if  I  live, 
will  no  to  the  East  Indies  next  year.  Your  sister  is  with  me,  and  little 
William  goes  to  the  school  at  which  all  lii-^  brothers  were  educated."^ 

In  a  letter  written  the  same  vear  to  her  sons  in  Canada, 
she  says: 

"  I  feel  gratified  by  your  affectionate  anxiety  for  me,  and  am  happy  to 
have  itin  my  power  to  nslieve  it,  by  assuring  you  that  1  am  infinitely  l)et- 
ter,  and  thank  (iod,  restored  to  a  good  degree  of  comfort.  *  *  A  variety 
of  tlie  mu.st  agonizing  scenes,  followed  l)y  a  press  of  the  most  harrassing 
business,  had  nearly  subdued  that  fortitude  which  never  before  forsook 
me. 

"  The  excellence  of  my  children  is  a  never-failing  source  of  delight  to 
me,  and  the  kindness  I  experience  from  my  friends,  tends  to  make  me 
much  less  sonsiljlo  of  the  material  change  in  my  situation. 

"  The  situation  of  your  dear  Father's  affairs  has  made  it  necessary  fur 
me  to  have  the  most  trifling  article  disposed  of,  or  valued  and  paid  for  by 
myself^this  has  extended  even  to  his  clothing." 

"  The  ^'/^('(/e  has  not  withdrawn  his  claim — but  does  not  press  it  with 
much  vigor." 

After  speakino;  in  detail  of  all  her  children,  she  says,  "No 
mother  was  ever  more  blessed  in  good  children  than  I  am." 

"I  shall  send  you  by  Mr.  Morley  some  of  your  dear  Fatiier's  hair,  liis 
seal  with  his  Arms,  and  sleeve-buttons,  knee  and  stock-buckles,  &c.,  &c., 
which  as  having  been  long  worn  by  him,  avjU  I  doubt  not  be  valued  by  you." 

In  August,  1803,  Mrs.  Arnold  writes,"!  have  the  greatest  satisfaction 
in  informing  you  that  the  long  pending  Admiralty  cause  of  theSwedi.«h 
ship  is  decided,  and  in  our  favor.  Their  claim  was  for  the  loss  of  the 
ship,  cargo,  and  two  years'  detention.  Had  they  succeeded,  ten  times  the 
property  I  have  would  not  have  satisfied  their  demand." 

She  adds,  "Upon  this  decision  everything  depended,  and  until  it  was 
given,  it  was  impossible  to  bring  the  business  to  a  close." 

After  speaking  in  detail  of  her  difficulties,  she  adds: 

1.    Manuscript  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnokl,  July  27.  1603, 


f 


401 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   AIIXOLD. 


"  Althoiif^b  I  have  suff.'roil,  in  my  choice  of  evils,  ahnost  beyoiul 
human  cmhu-ance,  I  now  repent  not  at  havinj?  made  it. 

"  To  you  I  have  renilored  an  essential  service;  I  have  rescued  your 
Father's  memory  from  disrespect,  by  paying  all  his  just  dt'l)ts;  and  his 
Children  will  now  never  liave  the  morlilicatioa  of  beiuff  rei)roacli(.'(l  with 
his  speculations  havinpr  injured  anybody  beyond  his  own  family;  ami  his 
motives,  not  the  unfortunate  termination,  will  bo  considered  by  them, 
and  his  mmnory  will  bo  doubly  dear  to th'm. 

"It  has  been  a  dreadful  business,  and  minute  as  I  have  been  in  my 
detail,  it  is  quite  impossible  for  you  to  form  an  idea  of  what  1  have  had 
to  encounter,  besides  the  sacrifice  of  all  my  accustomed  comforts.  I  have 
not  even  a  tea-spoon,  a  towel,  or  a  bottle  of  wine,  that  I  have  not  paid 
for.  But  having  nearly  completed  my  gT?at  work,  I  was  beginning  to 
enjoy  some  degree  of  comfort,  to  which  however  my  ill  health  is  a  great 
interruption. 

"  And  now  to  the  important  business  of  the  Canada  lands.  I  am 
very  glad  to  hear  that  the  ditliculty  of  the  grant  is  overcome — more  par- 
ticularly as  I  understand,  that  if  they  are  judiciously  located  they  will 
certainly  be  of  considerable  value."  ' 

TJie  letters  above  quoted,  from  Mrs.  Arnold  to  Richard 
and  Henry,  speak  more  eloquently  tlian  any  words  I  could 
use,  of  her  most  estimable  character. 

In  some  earlier  letters  she  referred  most  affectionately 
on  several  occasions  to  "Poor  Ben,"  General  Arnohl's  oldest 
son.  On  bis  father's  defection,  he,  as  well  as  Richard  and 
Henry,  alth()n<:^li  so  yonng,  received  commissions  from  the 
British  government.  Benedict  saw  active  service  as  an 
officer  in  the  artillery.  He  died  October  2-ith,  1705,  at  Iron 
Shore,  on  the  north  side  of  the  island  of  Jamaica,  in  the 
'West  Indies,  aged  twenty-seven  years.  He  had  been  se- 
verely wounded  in  the  leg,  in  a  recent  action,  and  refusing 
to  have  the  leg  amputated,  the  wound  resulted  in  his 
death. 

In  a  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnold  to  Richard,  written  after  the 
General's  death,  she  says:  "  I  shall  send,  when  a  good  op- 
portunity occurs,  some  few  things  belonging  to  your  Father; 

1.    Manuscript  letter  of  Mri.  iVrnold,  dated  Clay  Hall,  Old  Wiudsor,  Aug.  1803. 


HIS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TREASON. 


405 


also  your  poor  Lrotlior  Ben's  sword,  wliicli  Sir  Grenvillo 
TtMiiple  brought  f'ruin  the  AV'est  Inches,  and  gave  to  yonr 
Father."  * 

]>otli  Richard  and  ITenry  were  coniniissioned  as  lieuten- 
ants of  cavalry  in  the  American  Legion,  raised  by  their 
father  in  1780,  as  before  stated,  and  afterwards  received 
from  tlie  British  government  half-pay  as  retired  officers. 

liicliard  married  Margaret  Weatlierhead,  danghter  of 
Samnel  AVeatherhead,  Esq.,  of  Angusta,  T^p]Kn-  Canada, 
December  30th,  1804,  and  left  a  large  and  highly  respecta- 
ble family  erf  sons  and  danghters. 

Henry,  the  third  son  of  General  Arnold  by  his  first  wife? 
married  IfannaliTen  Eyck,  daughter  of  Richard  TenEyck, 
of  New  York,  December  -ith,  ITIH).  lie  died  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  Dec.  8th,  1820,  and  left  a  respectabie  family. 

Hannah,  their  aunt,  and  the  only  eister  of  General  Ar- 
nold, as  has  been  stated,  spent  the  later  years  of  her  life 
with  her  nejihews  Henry  and  Rich!ir<l,and  died  at  the  house 
of  Henry,  at  Montigue,  Canada,  August  .'Ust,  ISOl'." 

She  was  unusually  tall,  of  a  very  graceful  figure,  blonde 
hair,  with  bluish  gray  eyes.  She  was  a  woman  of  much 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  high-spirited,  warm-hearted 
and  sincere,  faithful  to  her  friends,  and  devotedlj'  attached 
to  her  brother  and  his  childi-en;'  she  was  a  staunch  I'rcsby- 
terian,  and  that  was  the  religion  of  the  family,  until  the 

1.  Manuscript  letter  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  1S02. 

As  an  illustnition  of  the  injustice  done  to  Arnold  nnd  his  family,  and  visitintj 
"the  sins  of  the  fatlier  upon  the  children,"  Sabine,  in  his  "  I/jyalist-s  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution,"  speaking  of  the  eldest  son,  says  :  "  Benedict  was  an  oflicer  of  ar- 
tillery in  the  British  army,  who,  it  is  beliciol,  was  compelled  to  quit  the  service." 
—Vol.  I,  p.  182. 

And  even  Mr.  Sparks  says,  "  He  was  a  violent,  headstrong  youth,  and  it  is  supposed 
came  to  an  untimely  end."— ^pnrt«'  J.ife  of  Arnold,  pAO. 

"  Poor  Ben,"  as  Mrs.  Arnold  calls  him,  was  not  com[)elled  to  quit  the  service  ;  he 
may  have  come  loan  "  untimely  end,"  but  it  was  from  a  wound  received  iu  battle. 

2.  Records  of  Family  of  Henry  Arnold. 

3.  Manuscript  Letter  of  Rev.  J.  L.  I^ake. 


40G 


LIFE   OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


marriage  of  General  Arnold  witli  Miss  Sliippcn,  who  bc- 
lon<^ed  to  the  Anglican  Chnreh;  utter  this  marriage,  he  and 
all  his  family  by  his  second  wife,  became  members  of  the 
English  Episcoj)al  Cluirch. 

Mrs.  Arnold,  who  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  seemed 
to  cling  to  life  only  that  she  might  serve  lier  children,  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  her  son  (Jetirge  iitted  out  for  the  In- 
dia service;  so  that  all  her  children,  except  her  daughter  and 
the  lad  William,  were  provided  for  and  settled  in  life.  She 
died  in  London,  August  24,  1804,  aged  forty-four  years. 

There  is  a  portrait  of  her,  and  of  her  oldt^st  son  when  a 
child,  by  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence,  showing  that  the  tradi- 
tions of  her  extraordinary  beauty,  did  her  no  more  than 
justice. 

This  admirable  woman  M'as,  it  stems  to  me,  an  almost 
])erfect  wife  and  mother,  and  I  cannot  discover  that  she  ever 
did  an  act,  or  wrote  a  word,  that  would  bring  a  blush  to  the 
cheek  of  the  most  sensitive  American.  On  the  contrary, 
in  the  circles  in  which  she  moved,  and  in  the  dilHcult  posi- 
tion she  occupied  as  the  wife  of  General  Arnold,  she  bore 
herself  with  a  dignity  and  grace,  and  with  a  modesty,  sin- 
cerity and  truth,  of  which  any  people  might  be  justly 
proud. 

Those  who  have  read  her  letters  wlh  have  learned  some- 
thing of  her  character,  and  I  hazard  nothing  in  saying  that 
the  reader  will  agree  with  me  that  the  charge  made  by 
Aaron  Burr,  that  Mrs.  Arnold  seduced  her  husband  to  his 
fall,  is  untrue. 

General  Arnold  left  surviving  him  by  his  second  wife 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  three  older  sons,  Edward 
Shippen,  James  Robertson,  and  George,  were  at  the  time  of 
Mrs,  Arnold's  death,  in  the  public  service;  and  the  young- 
est, William,  was  at  school  preparing  himself  for  the  life 
of  a  soldier,  so  that  Mrs.  Arnold  left  a  family  of  soldiers. 


HIS    PATIUOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


407 


A  Lricf  sketch  of  tlieir  lives  and  the  life  of  their  sister, 
kSo|»liia  JMiitilda,  iuid  .some  extracts  from  family  letters,  illus- 
trative of  their  characters,  will,  I  t  ink,  he  intere-tinj^. 

The  eldest,  Edward  Shippen,  horn  in  J'hihul  phia,  lOtli 
of  March,  1780,  and  on  the  hirth  of  whom  (Jeneral  and 
Mrs.  Arnold  received  the  con<;ratnlations  of  (Jeneral  and 
Lady.  AV^ashint^ton,'  commenced  his  military  life  as  Lieuten- 
ant in  the  (5th  J>en<:;al  cavalry,  lie  was  promoted  to  the 
])osition  of  ])aymaster,  and  dishiirsed,  with  the  utmost 
tidelitv  and  scrui)Ulo\is  care,  immense  sums  of  monev.  lie 
died  at  Dinapoor,  I'en^al,  Dec.  17,1813. 

His  moral  character  was  without  a  stain  :  he  was  un- 
wearied in  acts  of  heneficenco.  Li  the  fearful  famine,  which 
])revailed  in  the  Korthern  India  provinces,  while  he  was  in 
India,  the  wealth  which  his  industry,  capacity,  and  ])rovi- 
dence  had  accumulated,  his  generous  liheralitv  induced  him 
to  dispenes  freely  among  the  suftering  people  of  Mutti-a,  on 
whom  he  hestowed  secretly  large  sums,  in  food,  through  the 
agency  of  a  native  :  and  so  unostentatiously  wr.s  this  done, 
that  it  was  not  known  to  his  friends  and  family  until  after 
his  deatli.' 

The  heautv  of  his  domestic  character,  and  his  devotion  to 
his  mother,  his  hrothers  and  sister,  fully  ap{)ears  in  tlie 
family  corres])oiulence. 

James  Rohertison,  born  in  TsewYork,  August  28th  17S1, 
married  March  lilst  1807,  Virginia  Goodrich,  fourth  daugh- 
ter of  J3artlett  Goodrich,  Esq.,  of  Saling  Grove,  Isle  of  Wight. 
He  entered  the  Corps  of  Iloyal  Engineers  in  1798,  and  served 
as  an  officer  for  more  than  half  a  century,  rising  by  merit 
to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Gcneral.  He  served  throufjli  all 
the  wars  of  England  against  France,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
and   early  part  of  the  present  century.     In  1800  he  was 

1.  Letter  of  WnshiiDrton  to  Arnolil.  March  '.'Stli,  1780. 

2.  Rev.  Edward  Gladwin  Arnold— Manuscript  It'tier. 


408 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT    AKXOED. 


]>rc'.<*nnt  aiul  in  active  service  at  the  blockade  and  suiTciidcr 
of  ]\ralta.    In  1801  lie  ])articij>atod  in  tlK>('anij»aii;n  inKirypt.' 

lie  was  eni^agt>d  in  the  ca[)tiire  of  Ahoukir  Castle,  in  the 
battle  of  Alexandria,  and  the  e.\])nlsi()n  of  the  French  from 
(Iraiul  Cairo.  Afterwards  he  served  in  the  West  Intlics,  mid 
took  part  in  the  cotiqnest  of  the  colonies  of  Denierara, 
Esseqniho,  IJcrbice,  and  Surinam,  At  Surinam  he  success- 
fully led  the  storming  ])arty  against  the  redoubt  Frederic  and 
Fort  Leyden.  An  incident  connected  with  the  storming  of 
this  redoubt  has  been  told  by  a  connection  of  Lieutenant 
(icneral  Arnold,  tlu;  truth  of  which,  although  I  cannot  vouch 
for,  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt. 

When  the  J^ritish  cotnnninder  determined  to  e'  M'm  the 
redoubt,  knowing  the  extreme  danger  which  would  bo  en- 
countered by  the  attacking  ]>arty,  and  unwilling  to  order 
his  oilicers  to  abnost  certain  death,  lie  called  for  volunteers 
to  lead  the  ass^ault.  Several  young  oftlcers  volunteered,  and 
ann)ng  them  Ai'indd;  and  before  the  selection  was  made,  he 
said  to  the  comnuvnder:  ''I  claim  the  ])rivi]ege  of  leading 
this  assault.  No  braver  man  than  my  father  ever  lived,  but 
you  kuitw  how  bitterly  he  has  been  condemned  for  his  con- 
duct at  "West  Point;  permit  me,  I  beg  you,  to  do  what  I  can 
to  redeem  the  same." 

The  command  was  given  to  him;  he  led  it  gallantly  and 
successfully,  displaying  all  that  impetuous  courage  which 
had  so  distinguished  his  lather.  He  received  a  vei'v  severe 
wound  in  the  leg — but  the  redouht  and  fort  were  taken.'' 

For  his  gallantry  lie  was  honorably  mentioned  in  the  dis- 
patches, and  was  ]iresented  b}^  the  committee  of  the  patriotic 
fund  with  a  sword  of  the  value  of  £100  pounds.  lie  served 
several  years  in  Bermuda,  and  commanded  the  Engineers 
in  British  North  America,    i^-   A  (^  'V-'-'       ''  0 


1.  lUustratcil  I,nn<loii  News,  January,  Is'iS. 

2.  ^ve  JUustnited  London  Acu'ti,  January,  1855. 


HIS    PATRIOTIS.M    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


400 


Oil  the  accession  of  Kini^  "Willium  the  TV.to  tlic  throiip, 
(ioiieml  Arnold  was  ai)]iointc(l  one  of  his  Majcstv's  aides- 
<le-cain]>.  lie  was  .'icated  a  knight  of  the  Hanoverian 
(inelphic;  Order,  and  Juii^ht  of  the  Crescent.  N'  soUlier 
was  ever  ni«>re  sensitive  to  anythiniij  atl'ectin:^  his  honor.  He 
felt  most  k>./'nly  and  ])ainfnlly  the  stain  upon  his  name. 
When  at  St.  ,I»dins,  in  Jiritish  North  America,  lie  visited 
the  honso  in  whicii  his  father  had  lived,  and  it  is  said  he 
"wept  like  a  child."  ' 

He  kept  np  n  most  airectionate  corres])ondence  with  his 
mother's  family  in  America,  and  exjtri'ssed  a  desire  to  visit 
them,  hnt  was  prevented  by  his  knowled;^e  of  the  intense 
feeling  ai^ainst  his  fatlier.  To  one  of  his  mother's  family  in 
I'hiladel])liia,  writin<^  from  Malta,  in  1800,  he  says: 

'  Altliou^fh  aHtriingor,  my  heart  is  with  yon.  Much  of  the  uiihomidcd 
attfR'hiiiciit  of  my  laiiu'iitcd  Motlicr  for  lior  family  was  iiistillt'd  into  hor 
tiiii(h-cn,  and  there  is  nothing  to  whidi  1  looit  forward  with  more  pleasure 
tiian  to  lieing  with  you  once  again.  1  do  propose  to  visit  American 
very  few  years  hence,  if  after  tiie  long  periud  that  has  elapsed,  former 
circumstances  are  sufficiently  obli. crated  to  render  it  proper."  * 

He  died  withont  issne,  on  the  2Tth  of  December,  1S54,  at 
his  residence,  in  Onslow  Si^nare,  Lcnidon.'  He  is  said  to 
liave  resembled  his  father  in  personal  appearance. 

George,  born  at  8t.  Johns,  New  Brunswick,  Si^j^tember 
/>th,  1787,  man-ied  Anne  ]\rartinez  Brown,  and  died  in  In- 
dia, November  1st,  182S,  holdin<>:  at  the  time  of  his  death 
the  rank  of  Lieutemint-Colonel  in  the  2nd  Benfijal  cavalry. 
It  is  said  that  lie  was  named  by  his  father,  Geor«j;e,  after 
(Icorp^e  Washington,  his  early,  and  George  the  Third,  his 
later  Iriend. 

William  Fiteh,  born  in  London,  June  2oth,  17U4.     ]Mar- 

1.  Sftblne's  Loyftllsts,  Vol.  I,  p.  180. 

2.  It  will  be  recollected  lie  was  born  in  New  York. 

a.    Manuscript  Letter  from  his  nephew,  Kev.  Edward  Gladwin  Arnold. 


W 


410 


LIFE   or   BENEDICT   AllXOLD. 


ried  May  lOtli,  1S19,  ElizaLctli  Cecilia,  only  daugliter  of 
Alexander  Ruddock,  Es(].,  of  Tolja^o,  and  cajitain  in  the 
Kojal  navy.  AVilliani  was  a  ca])tain  in  the  ItJth  lloyal 
Lancers,  and  justice  of  the  ]>eace  for  the  county  of  I>uck- 
iiiiz^hanishire.  His  residence  and  country  seat  was  Little 
Messenden  Abbey,  in  Bucks,  He  left  six  children,  two  sons 
and  four  daughters.  One  of  his  sons,  the  llev,  Edward 
Gladwin  Arnold,  married  April  27th,  1852,  Lady  Char- 
lotte, daughter  of  the  MfUVjuis  of  Cholniondelay.  AVilliani 
Trail,  the  second  son,  was  a  ca))tain  in  the  4tli  (King's 
Own)  regiment  of  foot,  in  the  British  army.  He  served 
with  great  distinction  in  the  war  in  the  Crimea,  in  1854-5. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  the  Alma,  Iidcerman,  and  served 
with  his  regiment  before  Sebastopol  during  the  severe  and 
terrible  winter  of  1854-5. 

"  He  met  his  death  in  the  followiiif,'  manner:  He  was  in  commanil  of 
his  regiment  in  the  advanced  trenches  on  the  ni<fht  of  May  5th,  18>">, 
when  his  duty  was  to  post  double  st.'ntinels  in  iidv.mce  of  the  advanced 
trenches,  and  this  was  not  done  until  it  was  nenrly  dark.  He  had  posteil 
all  but  six  men,  and  was  advancinj;  with  them  and  a  sergeant,  when  a 
picket  of  Russians,  s  me  thirty  or  ibrty,  it  was  said,  which  had  boeu  ly- 
ing in  wait  for  him  under  a  hillock,  rose  up  and  fired  a  volley  at  him, 
when  he  was  but  a  few  yards  from  them.  He  cried  out  to  his  men, 
'Fire  and  retire,' and  fell  to  the  earth,  saying,  '0,  God!  T  am  killed  ' 
The  men  made  the  best  of  the  way  back  to  the  Trenches,  when  the  next 
officer  in  command  advanced  the  I'egiment  in  the  hope  of  recovering  his 
body,  but  though  they  found  the  exact  spot  where  he  fell,  he  had  been 
carried  into  Sebastopol. 

"  Lord  Raglan  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce,  but  all  that  could  be  learned  was, 
'  Captain  Arnold  died  the  same  night  he  was  wounded,  in  Sebastopol.'  " 

Lord  Raglan,  the  Commander-in-chief,  in  his  dispatch'^s.  May  8th.  If^o"), 
speaks  as  follows:  "On  the  same  night  Captain  Arnold,  of  the  4th  Foot, 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  while  posting  the  advance  sentries  on 
the  left.  The  loss  of  the  services  of  this  officer  in  greatly  to  be  lamented. 
He  Jidfi  (loitc  his  ihiiij  unremittingly,  and  in  the  most  spirited  iininiicr 
thvoiujhout  the  operations  qf  the  siege.'' 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND   HIS    TKEASOX. 


411 


"  He  was  a  fine  fellow,  in  every  way,  and  liad  all  tlic  energy 
and  si)irit  of  his  grandfather."  ' 

Sophia  Matilda^  daughter  of  General  Arnold,  was  born 
in  London,  July  28t]i,  1785;  she  was  married  April  17th, 
1813,  at  Muttra,  in  Bengal,  to  Captain,  afterwards  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel,  Pownall    Phip])S,   of  the   Mulgrave   family,  _ 
Knight  of  the  Crescent,  AcO*^  ^^  ^  ^-^^-^  ^  ^'^  ^<^/:i^^ii^ 

She  was  distinguished  for  her  heauty,  her  culture,  and 
her  marked  religious  character.     She  died  in  Sunbury,  Eng-  ^^ 
land,  June  10th,  1828.^    ^  /^^^u^^X^^»^  ^  ^  ^a^^C-«-»  ^ 

I  will  now  give  a  few  extracts  from  the  correspondence 
of  the  family,  illustrative  of  the  characters  of  its  members. 
These  extracts  might  be  very  largely  increased,  as  the  cor- 
respondence is  voluminous,  p.nd  runs  through  nnuiy  years. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  ISOG,  James  Eobertson,  writing  from 
l5arbadoes  to  his  grandfather,  Chief  Justice  Shippeu,  speaks 
of  having  been  in  the  AVest  Indies  "nearly  three  years, 
during  which  time,"  ho  says, ''I  have  been  tolerably  well 
employed.  The  fortunes  of  war,  will,  I  trust,  shortly  permit 
me  to  return  to  England,  for  which  I  am  more  particularly 
anxious  on  my  darling  sister's  account."  He  laments  hav- 
ing been  prevented  '"from  embracing  the^^e  dear  relations, 
whose  love  and  affection,"  he  says,  ^  would  have  cheered 
the  dreai-y  hours  of  my  life." 

"  I  never  cease  to  pray  God  to  lili^ss  and  protect  tlicDi.  Assure  th(Mn 
all,  my  dear  Sir,  of  these  seiitiiuents,  the  e.xtont  of  which  I  am  ill  able 

1.  Bev.  Edward  Gladwin  Anidld. 

The  tollowiiiK  nolifc.  tiken  from  the  Loioester  Advertiser,  England,  of  July  21, 
IS'Wj,  shows  lidw  lie  wtis  n'Rardud  by  his  coniraik's: 

"  Amongst  tlie  fearful  list  ol  losses  and  casualties  to  which  our  army  in  the  Cri- 
men is  exposed.  I  lately  read,  with  feeliuK's  of  iiiin},ded  sorrow  luid  rev'rct,  the  iianio 
of  Captain  Willium  Trail  ArnoM.  of  the  4lli  Kind's  Own  KeKimcnt,  who  was,  whilst 
eonuniuiiUnK  a  sl;irniishing  parly  tielure  J-eliastoixil,  severely  wounded,  and  tulien 
l>risoiier  on  the  oih  of  May  last,  and  died  of  his  wounds  a  lew  hours  after." 

2.  For  the  dates  and  facts  in  relation  to  the  descendants  of  General  Arnold,  in 
England,  I  am  indebted  to  his  grandson,  the  Kev.  Edward  Uladwiu  Arnold. 


412 


LIFE    OF   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


to  oxproRS.  anil  entreat  tliom  sometimes  to  think  of  me,  who  often,  very 
often  thinks  of,  and  prays  for  them, 

"  My  sister  will  probably  remain  in  Devonshire  Place,  *  *  till  my 
return,  when  I  ho^je  to  form  some  scheme  for  onr  living?  together,  and  for 
makinc,'  her  lushnppy  and  comfortahlo  as  my  fondest  wishes  have  desired. 

"  Poor  girl!  she  has  felt  and  still  feels  most  keenly  the  loss  of  our  best 
of  mothers.  But  I  will  try  to  heal  the  wound.  Whatever  fraternal  love 
can  devise,  shall  not  be  wanting  to  soothe  her,  and  I  trust  God  will 
crown  my  endeavors  with  success.  She  is  as  truly  good  an  1  amiable  as 
th(,'  tenderest  love  can  wish,  and  my  heart  swells  with  gratitude  .to  Al- 
mighty God  for  having  given  me  such  a  sister. 

"  My  dear  Brothers  in  India,  Edward  and  George,  are  doing  extremely 
well,  and  in  a  fair  way  of  promotion.  They  are  an  honor  to  their  name 
and  family.  Little  Williiun  is  at  School,  and  Sophia  tells  me  improving 
fast. 

"  The  establishment  in  life  of  that  poor  little  orphan  shall  be  one  of  my 
chief  cares,  and  1  am  determined  he  shall  never  feel  the  want  of  those  ad- 
vantages which  his  brothers  have  enjoyed.  He  shall  have  the  choice,  as 
we  had,  of  his  profession,  which  I  think  from  all  1  hear,  will  be  that  of  a 
sol.lier. 

"  We  are  very  dull  here. — No  laurels  I  fe.ir  for  the  West  India  army." 

He  speaks  enthusiastically  of  Lord  Nelson,  and  says:  "If  heroes  are 
entitled  to  a  seat  in  Heaven  he  (Nelson)  must  be  there." 

Of  Napoleon  he  says: 

"  One  would  imagine  that  the  repeated  Naval  defeats  the  usurper  has 
sustained  would  have  checked  his  ardor;  it  seems,  however,  only  to  have 
intlamed  it.  While  he  exists  Europe  can  expect  no  tranquility.  His 
ambition  knows  no  bounds.  *  *  J  tiust  the  Almighty  will  not  sutfer 
nmch  longer  this  scourge  to  desolate  the  world. 

"  I  heartily  pity  the  poor  old  King.  His  has  been  an  eventful  and  far 
from  happy  reign.  It  will  bo  long.  I  fear,  before  the  nation  will  recover 
the  loss  of  those  three  great  men — Pitt,  Nelson  and  Cornwallis. 

"  Pray,  my  dear  Grand-Father,  allow  me  the  hajipiness  of  hearing  from 
you,  and  may  God  forever  bless  you."* 

The  two  older  brothers,  Edward  Shippen,  in  the  East 
Indies,  and  James  Robertson,  in  the  West  Indies,  fonnd 
their  strongest  motive  to  action  in  their  orpliau  sister  and 
little  brother  in  England. 

1,    Manuscript  letter  lu  possession  of  Edward  Sliippcn,  Esq.,of  Phlludclifliia. 


HIS   TATKIOTISM    AXD    HIS   TREASOX. 


413 


III  ISOG,  Edward  was  at  Malta,  and  on  receiving  intelli- 
gence of  tiie  death  of  Chief  Justice  8hij)pen,  and  that  his 
grand-children  in  England  were  legatees,  writes  on  thelOtli 
of  Se])teniber  to  one  of  the  family  of  his  mother,  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

After  acknowledijinijj  the  receipt  of  the  "melancholv 
intelligence  of  dear  Grand-father's  death,"  etc.,  he  adds: 

"The  Will,  of  which  you  have  enclosed  a  Copy,  appears  to  have  been 
iniule  upon  principles  of  the  f,'r<'atest  kinilnoss  towards  us  all.  Wo  are 
all  too  nuicli  attaciied  to  our  dear  Sophia  to  feel  otherwise  than  highly 
j^ratified  that  she  should  have  been  thus  handsomely  provided  tor. 

"  I  think  it  rijjht,  both  as  a  puide  to  your  conduct,  in  a  situation  which 
you  will  perhaps  feel  as  rather  delicate,  and  as  a  proper  mark  of  respect 
to  my  nearest  remaining  relatives,  to  give  you  as  much  knowledge  as 
possible  of  our  respective  views  and  prospects.  Sophia's  income,  arising 
from  her  pension  and  property,  exclusively  her  own,  was  about  £.'50  a 
year,  to  which  was  added  £100  from  my  Grand-Father.  James,  George 
and  myself  had  relinquished  in  her  favor  our  pensions,  each  netting  £-<0, 
and  I  had  in  addition  to  this,  directed  my  agents  to  pay  to  her  use  £200 
a  year  if  she  required  it,  either  for  herself  o.  'or  defraying  the  expenses 
of  William's  education.  These  latter  sums,  however,  she  did  not  seem 
disposed  to  approja-iate  to  herself,  while  we  had  yet  our  fortunes  to  make; 
but  had  formed  very  prudent  aiTangemen's  for  living  and  educating  Wil- 
liam without  much  exceeding  the  two  former.  What  must  now  devolve 
to  her  will,  I  should  hope,  not  only  compensate  for  the  loss  of  her  allow- 
ance from  my  (i  rand- Fat  her,  but  add  also  so  considerably  to  her  income, 
as  to  prevent  her  having  occasion  for  that  assistynce  which  she  was  so 
delicate  in  accepting. 

*■  James  is  now  well  advanced  in  an  advantaseons  line  of  his  profes- 
f  ion,  and  with  his  pension,  and  a  full  quarter  share  of  what  is  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  us,  will  be  well  provided  for.  George  has  also  been  very 
fortunate  in  this  country.  He  has  a  good  standing  in  the  service,  and 
every  prospect  of  returning  to  England  after  a  moderate  number  of  years, 
with  an  Independance.  I  have  hitherto  been  particularly  successful,  hav- 
ing had  the  charge  for  the  last  ten  months  of  Deputy  Field  Pay-master 
to  the  troops  on  this  establishment,  and  as  my  conduct  has  hitherto  been 
approved  by  the  government,  I  have  every  pros|',ect  of  being  confirmed 
in  this  situation,  and  of  realizing  in  a  few  years  enough  to  satisfy  my 
moderate  wislu's.  William,  in  short,  only  remains  to  be  provided  for, 
and  he  hfis  of  his  owu  about  £1,:jOJ  or  £1,400.    This  it  was  my  iuteu- 


41i. 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


tion  to  linvc  made  up  by  a  loan  of  £3,000—80  that  a  writcrship  to  this 
country  (India)  mifirht  be  purchanod  for  him.  Goorj^c  and  myself  oreatly 
wish  that  from  our  shares  his  may  be  made  up  to  a  snni  sufficient  to  ef- 
fect this  purpose  and  to  pay  his  outfit.  Should  this  plan  require  the 
whole  (of  our  shares)  we  willingly  relinquish  them.  *        *        * 

"  I  cannot  close  without  expressing  how  much  regret  I  feel  in  being 
known  by  name  only  to  those  near  relati*  s  with  whom  other  men  aavo 
an  opportunity  of  forming  the  most  endearmg  connections  of  life." 

Oil  tlie  12th  of  November,  1806,  he  writes  to  the  same 
person,  saying: 

"  The  Government  have  now  perminently  appointed  me  a  Deputy  Pay 
Master  to  the  troops,  with  a  very  large  district  on  the  frontier.  It  is  a 
situation  of  peculiar  responsibility  and  trouble,  involving  a  disbursement 
of  nearly  a  million  sterling  a  year.  *  *  *  jj  affords  me  a  certain 
prospect  of  a  moderate  independence  at  the  end  of  five  or  six  years  more. 

*  *  It  was  given  me  by  the  Commander-in-chief,  after  serving  three 
campaigns  with  him,  and  confirmed  by  the  Governor-General  after  a 
year's  trial. 

"  William  is  now  at  the  preparatory  school  to  the  College,  where  all 
the  civil  servants  of  the  company  are  educated. 

"  My  brother  George  is  well,  and  is  succeeding  beyond  most  young  men 
of  his  age  in  India." 

On  the  25th  of  October,  181.3,  William  writes  to  Richard  his  half- 
bi'other  in  Canada,  saying  "  Sophia  is  married  to  Captain  Phipps,  of  the 
East  India  company's  service.  It  is  a  most  desirable  match;  he  is  a  rela- 
tion to  Lord  Mulgrave,  and  a  nephew  to  Mr.  Tierney,'  a  very  fine  young 
man,  and  extremely  well-off  in  pecuniary  matters.  Edward  and  George 
were  in  good  health,  and  coming  on  well." 

On  tlie  30th  of  July,  1823,  Sophia  (Mrs.  Tliipps)  writes  to 

her  nncle  Burd,  saying, 

"William  has  bought  a  small  freehold  Estate,  Little  Mosscndon  Abbey, 
in  Bucks,  and  is  residing  quietly  there  with  his  wife  and  three  children. 
We  are  to  pay  them  a  visit,  when  we  leave  Bath." 

On  the  16th  of  August,  1814,  James  writes  to  his  broth- 
ers Eicliard  and  Henry,  communicating  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  his  brother  Edward.     lie  says: 

"He  died  on  the  17th  of  December  last  at  Dinapore,  on  his  way  to 
Calcutta. 

1.    Member  of  rarliamcnt. 


HIS   PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS   TEEASOX. 


415 


"To  tell  you  how  miserable  this  event  has  made  me  woukl  l)o  impossi- 
ble, but  you  may  judtjfo  of  my  fpclinjjs,  when  you  reflect  that  we  were 
Ijronfrht  up  tofrfther  and  always  loved  eaeh  other  witli  the  most  tender 
atii'ction.  *  *  ]  am  really  happy  to  inl'oim  you  of  poor  Kd ward's 
affectionate  recollection  of  you  both.  He  has  left  you  each  £")00  sterling. 
*  *  (lod  bless  and  prosper  you,  my  dear  brothers,  and  may  it 
bo  long,  very  long,  belbre  we  have  to  deplore  the  loss  of  another  of  our 
family." 

On  the  7tli  of  Angnst,  1815,  James  writes  aguiii  to  his 
brothers  in  Canada,  saying: 

"  You  will  l)e  pleased  to  learn  that  I  have  obtained  the  important  step 
of  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  my  Corps.  I  have  more  than  ever  cause  to  be 
thankful  to  our  clear  Parents  and  our  lamented  Brother  Edward,  by 
whose  advice  I  came  into  the  Engineers.  If  they  had  been  siiared  to 
witness  the  result  of  their  exertions  for  me,  my  feelings  on  this  occasion 
would  have  been  delightful  indeed.  But  all  is  for  the  best,  and  we  have 
no  right  to  doubt  the  goodness  and  wisdom  of  that  kind  Providence  who 
grants  or  withholds,  as  He  knows  to  be  right.  If  pros  perity  and  the 
comi)letion  of  all  our  worldly  desires  make  us  happier,  they  do  not  always 
make  us  the  better  or  moi"e  deserving;  adversity,  and  those  disappoint- 
ments which  mankind  call  cruel,  and  which  appear  so  at  the  time,  seldom 
fail  to  teach  us  that  it  is  not  here  we  are  to  look  fur  happiness;  that 
though  we  may  enjoy  it  for  a  time,  it  cannot  last,  and  that  it  is  only  by 
endeavoring  to  do  our  duty  that  we  can  e.xpect  to  attain  it  in  the  state  to 
which  we  are  all  hastening.  This  conviction  must  check  unmeasured 
joy,  and  must  console  us  in  the  most  trying  afflictions. 

"As  to  the  Land  (the  Canada  land),  a  few  years  may  make  it  of 
some  value,  and  I  shall  let  it  take  its  chance,  as  far  as  1  am  concerned. 
I  wish  we  could  stick  it  on  to  some  part  of  old  England,  and  bring  you  and 
your  family  over  with  it.     It  would  be  of  souu'  value  with  the  timber  on 

jj.  #        4F        4^  , 

"  I  should  have  liked  to  have  shared  in  the  glory  of  the  late  campaign, 
but  having  missed  that,  care  very  little  where  I  go  next.  You  will  have 
heard  before  this  can  reach  you,  of  that  noble  but  bloody  atlair,  the  bat- 
tle of  Waterloo.  The  French  are  completely  humbled,  but  I  dcjubt  tin- 
flame  being  extinguished.  I  hope  the  Allies  will  make  them  suffer  a 
little  more  before  they  leave  them.  *  *  * 

"  You  will  see  what  a  complete  change  we  have  recently  had  in  our  ad- 
ministration, and  I  hope  things  will  now  go  on  better.  The  Duke  of  Wel- 
lington is  a  straight-fbrvvatd,  honorable  fellow,  without  any  humbug,  i 
have  seen  a  great  deal  of  him  since  I  have  been  stationed  at  Dover,  and 
have  received  nmch  kindness  and  attention  from  him.     *    *  " 


410 


LIFE   OF    BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 


liii 


On  the  12tli  of  Aiii^nst,  1S3G,  James  was  Aide-do-Canip 
to  Kinii^  William  the  IV.,  and  was  still  stationed  at  Dover, 
Enii;land.  Ills  half-brother  liichard  had  written  to  him. 
soliciting  aid  in  obtaining  some  appointment,  to  whieh  hu 
replies: 

"  You  are  mistaken,  my  dear  Richartl,  as  to  the  influence  you  seem  to 
imagine  the  officers  on  the  Kings's  staff  have  with  him.  Tlae  only  aide- 
de-camp  constantly  about  his  person  is  the  principal  one,  Sir  Herbert 
'J'aylor,  and  he  has  much  influence.  The  others,  with  perhaps  few  excep- 
tions, have  little  intercourse  with  his  majesty,  excepting  on  occasions  of 
State,  or  other  duties.  There  are  certain  privileges  attached  to  the 
appointment,  liut  though  it  brings  us  all  more  in  the  occasional  presence 
of  his  majesty,  more  in  contact  with  him  through  other  officers,  it  gives 
vo  chiim  to  his  confidence,  beyond  what  he  may  see  fit  to  giant.  The 
ministers  of  the  crown  are  the  hi.'ads  through  whom  all  chiefly  look  for 
the  accomplisliment  of  such  olyects  as  our  friend  Jones  had  in  view.     *    * 

"  I  wish  you  fully  to  understand  the  appointment  of  King's  aid-de-camp 
tliough  purely  military,  has  always  been  considered  most  enviable  and 
desirable,  and  to  be  conferred  as  a  mark  of  Royal  approbation  of  conduct. 
I  value  it  most  highly.  You  give  me  the  title  of  '  Sir,'  to  which  I  have  no 
right.  Remember,  I  am  plain  'Colonel.'  I  hope  you  will  soon  be  able 
to  sell  some  moie  of  our  land  to  advantage. 

"  God  bless  you  all — Virginia  unites  with  me  in  kindest  love— ever  my 

dear  Richard, 

"  Your  affectionate  Brother,  tSrc." 

On  the  23d  of  Jnnc,  1837,  James  writes  from  the  "  United 
Service  Club,  London,"  to  his  brother  Richard,  and  says» 
amotig,  other  things: 

*'  I  have  recently  been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Engineer 
I  )epartment  in  Ireland.  #  *  ♦  * 

"  The  connnand  is  considered  the  most  important  we  have,  and  I  ex- 
pect to  be  placed  as  a  Colonel  on  the  Staff,  which  will  make  it  much 
more  agreeable.        *  #  *  *  * 

"  I  understand  Phipp's  boy  is  grown  a  very  fine  stout  fellow.  I  won- 
der at  his  choosing  to  settle  in  Ireland,  and  in  such  a  county,  too,  as  Tip- 
perary!     Rut  he  tells  me  they  get  on  well  there. 

"As  to  William  *  *  he  has  a  very  pretty  place  in  Buckingham- 
shire, and  has  been  made  a  Magistrate,  which  gives  him  some  impor- 
tance in  the  County.  #  *  *  * 


IirS    PATRIOTISM    AND    HIS    TREASON. 


417 


"Pray  toll  mo  what  prospect  tbero  is  of  sellinj,'  our  land.  I  wish  we 
coulil  dispose  of  it  to  tolerable  a(lvaiitiij,'(',  aiul  that  I  believe  to  lie  the 
wish  of  tlie  fiiiiiily  {irnerally.  No  doubt  it  »(('//  be  more  valiiabli-  tni 
years  lu'iiee,  but  then  we  may  not  be  here  to  enjoy  the  benefit  uf  it! 

"  I'ray,  doendtavorto  sell  whenever  anything  like  fair  opportunity 
otlcr.  *  *  #  *  *  * 

" 'J"he  death  of  our  excellent  Kiny  has  cast  much  gloom  over  London. 
He  will  long  be  deeply  and  sincerely  lamented,  and  I.  for  one,  feel  that 
in  him  I  have  lost  an  excellent  friend.  1  had  the  honor  of  dining  with 
him  at  Brighton  lasl  Februaiy,  and  had  an  audience  the  next  morning 
of  nearly  an  hour.        ***** 

"The  young  (.2"''^"  (Victoria)  appears  to  have  given  much  satisfact.jn, 
and  to  promise  all  we  can  expect  from  her.  15ut  it  is  a  serious  and 
heavy  charge  for  a  girl  of  eighteen!  *  *  * 

"  Yon  shall  know  how  we  get  on  in  Ireland.     * 

"(lod  bles-!  you  ami  all  your  family,  my  dear  Kichard!  1  trust  you  will 
enjoy  many  hajjpy  years,  and  that  we  may  yet  meet  in  thin  world,  belorc 
we  are  summoned  to  a  better.  The  next  Brevet  will  most  probal)ly  make 
me  a  Major-deneral,  and  1  eamiot  doubt  that  when  stnnii  travflinycomcs 
more  fidly  into  play,  I  may  feel  di.sposed  to  take  another  trip  across  the 
Atlantic." 

Tlicse  extracts  niio-lit  lie  continued,  l)ut  enough  liave  lieoii 
given  to  show  tlie  character  of  the  i'aniily,  and  thegt'iicnius 
affection  tliey  all  entertained  for  each  other.  The  letters 
indicate,  what  I  learn  from  other  sources,  that  all  the  sons 
and  the  daughter  were  of  marked  religious  character.  An 
English  corres]»ondent,  who  knew  the  family,  says:  "The 
Konsof  (ieneral  Arnold  could  not  l»ut  l»e  brave,  and  the  sons  of 
Margaret  Shi])pen  couM  not  he  other  than  gentlemen,  and 
her  daughter  a  gentlewoman." 

27 


APPEISTDIX. 


The  followini;  paper  was  drawn  up  by  Gen.  Arnold  at  the 
request  of  the  Kini^.  Its  exact  date  I  am  unable  to  give. 
It  is  the  original  draft,  with  some  interlineations,  erasures 
and  alterations,  and  apparently  somewh.at  incomplete,  and 
is  all  in  his  hand-writin<i:,  and  was  furnished  to  nie  by  his 
grandson,  the  liev.  Edward  Gladwin  Arnold: 

"THOUGHTS  ON  THE  AMERICAN  WAR— BY  AN  AMERICAN- 

(GEN.  A.)  1782. 

"Great  Britain  was  deceived  at  the  Commencement  of  the  American 
troubles,  when  she  trusttd  to  what  some  wrote:  that  the  Discoiitents 
were  confined  to  a  small  faction.  Her  measures  thus  became  inadef|uate 
to  her  Ends.  A  great  majority  of  America  was  at  first  in  the  opposition, 
tho'  not  all  for  arming.  There  ai-e  those  who  now  allege  that  she  has 
few  or  no  Friends  in  America;  and  if  they  are  believed,  sht>  will  be  a 
second  time  and  more  fatally  deluded.  Such  accounts  should  be  listt!ned 
to  with  great  jealousy,  because  they  proceed  from  Ignorance  or  bad  de- 
signs, and  lead  to  despair;  and  tho  severance  of  the  Enij)ire  will  be  the 
ruin  of  it,  and  of  eveiy  part  of  it. 

"  That  a  great  Majority  of  the  Americans  are  averse  from  the  Separa- 
tion, is  a  Tnith  supported  by  every  kind  of  Proof  of  which  the  Subject 
is  capable,  and  nothing  is  so  easy  as  to  detect  the  Fallacy  of  the  Reasons 
assigned  for  doubting  it.  It  appears  to  be  a  Parodox  to  some,  how  a 
^linority  can  maintain  the  Usurpation  in  a  Government  that  is  democrat- 
ical.  The  solution  is  this:  When  the  Republics  were  first  formed,  the 
Miijority  were  in  Favor  of  them,  and  disarmed  the  Rest;  they  did  more — 
they  enacted  laws  to  incapacitate  them  from  holding  Ofl'ices,  or  voting 
ior  others,  for  they  made  it  a  pro-requisite  to  both,  that  the  King's 
Authority  should  be  abjured.    No  Loi/nlist  can  do  that. 

(419) 


420 


APPENDIX. 


M  ■ 


'  i 


"  It  is  a  Df'innnstnition  that  llio  Friends  of  the  Rostonition  arc  most 
nuuiorous,  it'  the  tact  be  adiiiitteil  that  the  Kluctiong  an;  ovt'i-ywluTo  at- 
tended by  a  minority;  and  this  has  been  the  case  t.'vcr  since  the  Over- 
tures of  177H.  If  it  was  not  believed  to  be  so,  how  sliouid  we  account  for 
the  resort  of  so  many  Thousands  to  the  Kin},''s  Lines?  Wiiat  induces 
them  to  quit  their  Estates,  Families  and  Friends,  and  risk  tlieir  own 
Lives'?  It  would  be  the  fjroatest  of  all  Paradoxes  to  find  them  stakinf,' 
everything  dear  to  them,  upon  their  |ireferenc(,'  of  the  Royal  t'ause  to  the 
Conyressional  Protection,  if  th.ey  knew  tlie  latter  to  be  supported  by  the 
general  voice.  You  will  hear,  indeed,  of  Diversities  in  the  Proportions 
of  Whig  and  Tory  at  ditferi'iit  Places,  and  the  accounts  would  Ije  falst; 
if  they  were  not  various;  but  every  informer,  from  whatever  Distinct  he 
comes,  Va'ings  the  Intelligence  that  his  Townsmen  or  Countrymen  are  in 
the  main  for  the  Restoration,  ami  that  their  Siiinlwrs  (lidlfi  iiicnitsc. 
Nothing  can  more  strongly  confirm  this  Testimony  than  the  Conduct  of 
the  Party  in  the  saddle,  and  the  condifions  of  their  o/fidrs. 

"  It  was  because  the  Non-concurrence  of  the  multitude  was  appre- 
hcndi'd,  that  they  were  not  consulted  on  thr  rrtijiriitu  of  ihrhtrinf/  the 
IiKlijiciidoicc  ill  1776,  nor  on  the  Couftdcrafioti  to  mitlnirizifori'if/n  alli- 
ancea  in  1777,  nor  on  the  licjirt'uiu  of  the  Jiritinh  Oi-ertnres  in  1778. 
Ever}'  one  of  these  F]vents  actually  made  accessions  to  the  Number  of 
the  Loyalists,  and  frittered  down  the  IndepiMulent  Party  to  a  proportion- 
able Diminution.  The  minority  increased  in  Cruelty  as  they  lessened  in 
Numbers,  and  the  Barbarities  begot  by  their  fears,  disgusting  others,  and 
working  with  general  Calamities,  the  Zealots,  at  this  day  tor  protracting 
the  War,  are  really  become  a  very  small  Projiortion  of  the  Continent. 
America  is  a  country  of  husbamlmen,  and  tho'  this  class  lias  felt  the  1)ur- 
then  of  Military  Service,  'tis  but  now  they  find  cause  to  repine  under  the 
Load  of  their  Taxes,  which  are  tenlbld  greater  than  they  were  before  the 
War,  and  are  daily  increasing,  the  scarcity  of  Specie,  having  reduced  the 
Peace  Price  of  tUeir  stinted  Productions  nearly  onedialf — Wheat  being  at 
4s.  a  Bushel. 

"  If  it  is  thought'an  Objection  that  the  Wnr  would  not  have  been  so 
unsuccessful,  if  our  Friends  were  so  numerous;  but  that  in  the  several 
Experiments'for  penetrating  the  Country,  they  would  have  flocked  to  the 
British  Standard;  and  that  consequently  the  truth  is,  that  the  Rebels 
are  everywhere  an  inveterate  IMajority,  and  the  Loyalists  few  and  timid, 
as  Earl  Cornwallis  has  asserted.  I  reply  that  this  Timidity  should  be 
called  Diffidence;  and  arises  from  causes  easily  to  be  removed  by  a  change 
in  the  Conduct  of  the  War,  which  the  American  Loyalists  have  all  along 
disapproved.  It  would  be  a  tedious  and  invidious  Task  to  indulge  in 
particular  remarks,  upon  tho  Inactivity  and  Misdirection  of  the  King's 


APPENDIX. 


421 


1011- 

Ain 
and 
ictii)^^ 
lent, 
liuv- 
th.^ 
tlio 
I  thL' 
-•  at 

m  so 
iveval 
o  tlu; 
ebels 
iniiil, 
(I  be 
anffo 
ilong 
jfu  in 
ing's 


Arms;  T  loavo  it  to  other!',  for  a  few  important  Observations  to  finish  with 
the  objf'ction  !  liavo  start<'il. 

"  Has  any  attempt  been  made  to  set  up  the  Civil  Authority  in  any  Part 
of  America,  wliere  the  usurpation  was  beaten  down?  Certainly  not— and 
till  tliis  if  atti'udi'd  to,  tiit;  Loyah'sts  iu  fri'iuTid  //•///  not,  nor  iiidccd  ran 
fth'c  any  essential  assistance  to  the  Koyal  Ariiis.  I  have  said  they  irill 
not  because  they  are  Eiifjlislimeti.  Nay,  an  American  Husbandman  will 
no  sooner  ([uit  Ins  farm  and  family  to  become  a  common  Soldier  at  Six 
Pense  a  I'ay  Wages  with  rations,  than  an  English  Gt.'utleman  of  i;")00  a 
year  in  the  funds.  He  will  not  lend  his  haml  to  erect  a  Military  Misrule 
over  himself  and  his  Friends,  ami  put  all  his  Property  at  the  Discretion  of 
an  Arbitrary  Police,  that  has  cut  the  throat  of  the  Kinz's  Interest  when- 
ever it  has  been  setup.  He  has,  however,  noolijection  to  serve  in  the 
Militia  tiithin  his  own  colony,  under  oilicers  who  are  of  it;  and  to  assist 
in  supporting  its  government  and  defending  himself  in  it ;  and  may  per- 
haps pursue  the  ]{ebel  out  of  it,  or  meet  iiim  on  a  Menaeed  invasion  near 
the  Borders.  Hut  for  this  purpose  the  Civil  Authority  of  the  Crown  must 
first  bo  set  up;  and  without  it,  Great  Britain  (tlie  Anu'rican  being  what 
lie  is)  can  neither  be  benefited  by  his  Councils,  his  J'urse,  nor  his  Arms. 
He  will  be  passive  while  under  the  Power  of  the  U.>-urpers;  and  when 
they  are  ilying  Ijefoio  the  King's  troops,  continue  if  he  can  at  lion.io,  .riv- 
ing aiil  to  neither  Party,  and  certainly  not  ojipose  the  Hoyal  Army,  if  he 
finds  it  possible  to  avoid  it;  and  in  short,  behave  in  the  manner  Lord 
Cornwallis  exiiorienced,  distrusting  both  the  strength  of  his  Army,  to 
give  Protection,  and  what  is  worse,  to  afford  the  Protection  of  the  Liiun 
of  the  Land. 

"  In  a  war  of  Posts,  therefore,  connected  with  the  plan  of  subjecting  the 
Country  to  Military  Policy,  the  whole  n'ork  iiiiist  he  per/onncil  hif  the 
Ki)i(/'s  Troops;  and  if  this  is  impracticable,  it  is  a  very  good  reiuson  for 
adopting  a  new  mode,  but  no  evidence  at  all  of  the  want  of  a  Disposition 
in  America  for  the  Renewal  of  the  royal  flovermuent  and  the  re-union 
of  the  Empire.  Is  there  a  county  in  England,  that  thus  circumstanced, 
would  act  otherwise,  and  be  easy  a  month  under  the  Direction  of  an 
army? — of  an  army  too,  addicted  to  Plunder,  and  often  willing  tosupjioso 
a  Friend  to  be  a  Rebel,  for  the  sake  of  what  he  has  got,  or  they  liavo 
seized?  I  will  not  admit,  though  a  soldier  myself,  that  the  King's  Civil 
Government  and  the  success  of  the  service  are  incompatable;  and  have 
.  said  enough  against  any  further  Exjieriment,  that  have  so  long  indulged 
to  this  Military  Partiality.  But  there  is  another  objection  that  has  weight, 
and  that  is,  that  the  new  restored  Legislatr.re  may  do  in.jury  to  the  con- 
ciliatory Designs  of  the  Crown,  by  too  Vindictive  a  spirit,  and  an  inor- 
dinate Desire  to  compensate  their  own  Losses,  by  the  Kuin  of  those  who 
have  at  any  time  contributed  to  the  present  distractions.    Georgia  has 


t 


ter»*«^-. 


422 


AITKNDIX. 


oommittpd  this  error.  TJut  it  miylit  imvi'  lit'cn  ri'''V''nfi'il  liy  a  Govcrnnr, 
disposed  to  act  the  part  of  a  nicdiatnr  Im'Inmm'ii  W'iiij;  and  'J'ory;  and  it  is 
curtain  tliat  tho  example  of  (leor^ria  (luoted  by  some,  for  not  vestorint 
tiio  old  conHtitntion  of  South  (J.iroiina,  I'lirniMliinl  tht^  utron^t.'Ht  ArKn- 
mentimayinablt'  fur  its  bcinj,'  instantly  set  upon  the  Itoductiuii  of  Charles- 
town.  It  was  then  practicalile  to  have  formed  an  As«eniljly  of  I'enitents, 
wlio  bciiifj  found  cm  thinr  estates,  witii  a  moderate  (Jovernor  and  Coun- 
cil, would  have  ^iven  full  scope  to  that  Wise  I'ol icy,  necessary  to  Hal- 
lanctj  between  the  hatred  of  Tartir-s,  and  prevent  the  liuin  of  either,  by 
unconscionable  sacriiices  inconsistent  with  the  public  jfood. 

"  Congress  took  advantage  of  our  l''olly  in  leaving  that  Province  to  a 
Military  I'olice,  bud  fur  u  loitti,  and  wholly  inadeipiatc  to  a  Province. 
Left  to  a  state  of  Nature,  tlu;  Soldiery  began  to  insult,  Hobberies  sprang 
up.  The  injured  under  the  late  Usurpation  avenged  themselves  upon 
their  Uppresors.  The  slaves  left  their  Masters,  and  the  whole  Province 
was  prejuired  to  resign  all  hope  of  Government  for  the  common  Protec- 
tion, befon,'  the  Congressional  Troo])s  arrived  to  increases  the  Confusion; 
(iml  if  South  Ciirvliiia  is  not  lo.st,  if  is  ruixrd ;  so  that  the  only  advan- 
tage we  draw  from  all  our  Operations  in  that  (Quarter,  is  the  Lesson  it 
teaches  to  the  other  Provinces,  of  consulting  their  Salvation  from  Des- 
truction by  a  timely  Reconciliation  with  the  Mother  Country.  What  has 
been  said  in  part  anticipates  that  Proof  of  the  Nui  iber  of  the  King's 
Friends,  which  is  deducible  from  the  low  Condition  of  the  Rebel  Af- 
fairs. 

"  The  Congress  is  utterly  become  Bankrupt  Not  a  15ill  of  theirs  now 
has  any  Credit,  and  the  only  currency  is  hard  money.  'J'his  must  be  set 
down  to  the  distrust  began  and  propagated  by  the  Loyalists;  for  the  De- 
preciation commenced  in  1777.  Old  Monc//,  Old  I'ricc,  was  the  vulgar 
Cantatumof  the  Friends  of  Covernment,  from  the  first  moment  of  le 
paper  Emission  in  1775.  It  is  a  confirmation  of  this,  that  tho  Bankrujit- 
cy  has  occasioned  no  such  convulsions  as  the  uninformed  speculator  looked 
for.  No  Loyalist  hoarded  what  he  hated  as  ueU  as  despised.  The  loss 
has  thus  wholly  fallen  upon  the  Whigs,  who  cried  up  the  Paper  money; 
and  it  is  not  consistent  with  their  I'rinciples  nor  Reputation  to  ut- 
ter Complaints,  and  afford  Matter  of  Triumph  to  their  Adversaries. 
Some  of  them  had  treasured  up  these  Bills  in  Barrels,  and  are  unpitied 
l)oth  by  Whig  and  Tory  for  profiting  by  tho  imhlic  Fraud.  The  diffi- 
culty of  forcing  the  Militia  into  the  Field;  the  sanguinary  Laws  of  the 
Usurpers;  the  Mutiny  and  Desertion  of  their  regular  Troops;  and  vari- 
ous other  topics,  might  be  mentioned  as  Proofs  of  the  Declension  of  the 
Party,  with  decisive  confessions  in  the  intercepted  letters  of  the  Rebels. 
In  a  word,  but  for  the  late  French  aid,  the  Rebellion  had  sunk  under  its 
own  weakness.    To  rid  themselves  of  the  burthen  of  supernumerary  of- 


! 


APPENDIX. 


423 


a  Governor, 
ry;  iiiitl  it  is 
lot  iCdloriuK' 
i>?t,'st  Arjfu- 
II  ot'Ciiiirlt^H- 
L)t  iVnitents, 
r  and  Coiin- 
isiiry  to  Hiil- 
of  either,  by 

'rovinco  to  a 
a  rrovince. 
)('rii'H  spraiiK 
uselves  upon 
lole  Province 
unon  Protec- 
le  Confusion; 
•  only  atlvun- 
Llie  l.esson  it 
)n  from  Des- 
!.  What  has 
3f  the  King's 
le  IJebel  Af- 

of  theirs  now 
;  nuist  Ijo  set 
for  the  De- 
is the  val<rar 
nient  of     le 
le  IJiinkrupt- 
uhitor  looked 
I.    The  loss 
aper  money; 
ation  to  ut- 
Adversaries. 
are  unpitied 
The  ditfi- 
Laws  of  the 
ps;  and  vari- 
ension  of  the 
f  the  Rebels, 
ink  under  its 
numerary  of- 


l. 


ficors  in  the  Army  (a  8usj)iciou9  but  necessary  measure),  it  was,  in  Sep- 
tember, 17H0,  resolved  on  to  consolidate;  several  Retriments  into  one,  and 
that  it  shtuld  take  place  on  tlie  1st  of  January  fblluwiny,  a  Season  vj 
the  least  apprehension. 

' '  The  army  then  was  to  consist  of: 

4  Rej,''imentH  of  Cavalry — in  all IJt^C 

I  Rejriments  of  Artillery 2,:U0 

4'.)  Re>,'iments  of  Infantry 2"i,224 

1  Regiment  of  Artitiuerii 4><(> 


32,580 

",This  was  an  Establishment  on  Paper,  and  doubtless  exceeded  the 
Hopes  of  the  Congress,  except  for  the  EH'ect  of  its  appearance  Almxitl; 
they  must,  however,  have  been  alarmed  to  lind  that  their  Force  in  the 
Field  late  in  Juno  last,  in  all  Parts  of  the  Continent,  fell  short  of  i'>,OU(» 
Men.  I  speak  of  real  soldiers — Continentals  and  not  militia  or  montli's 
men,  who  are  but  Militia,  forced  out  for  the  short  terms  of  o,  4,  G  or  it 
months,  and  not  always  in  Congressional,  but  the  still  more  jirecarious 
and  slender  Pay  of  the  Colony  they  are  sent  from.  Under  Washington 
there  were: 

In  the  Highlands 1,500 

At  Fort  Stanwix  and  its  neighborhood 1,000 

With  Green,  the  Debris  of  the  Southern  army 800 

Under  Lafayette,  700,  besides  the  600  of  the  Pennsylvania  Muti- 
neers re-assembled  by  Wayne 1,300 


4,600 
"  It  is  true  thoAmerican  and  French  Troops  that  wore  convened  in  West 
Chester  County,  from  the  first  of  July  to  the  20th  of  August  for  menacing 
New  York,  were  al)out  7000.  Butof  these  Rochanibeau's  Force  eonsistivl 
of  2870,  and  to  make  up  the  Ballance  of  upwards  of  4000  in  Americans, 
it  must  bo  observed  that  besides  the  1500  from  the  Highlands,  with  the 
1000  frO''  Fort  Statiwix,  then  ahamloneil,  Washington  had  then  so  many 
Militia  that  when  he  marched  froni  King's  Ferry  to  Virginia  f 'i^Sd  August) 
with  three  thousand  men,  Heath  took  up  to  the  Highland  Forts,  about 
10  or  12  hundred  of  the  Militia;  and  that  is  the  number  with  a  small 
addition  of  others,  that  have  occujjiod  the  Highland  Forts  ever  since, 
till  the  appearance  of  the  British  from  Canada,  at  Crown  Point,  in  October 
occasioned  a  Detachment  to  the  Northward  that  reduced  the  Garrison  at 
West  Point,  as  was  said  lately,  to  but  about  (;0()  men.  I  say  nothing  upon 
the  delicate  enrpiiiy  which  the  disaster  in  Virginia  will  lead  to.  It  is 
material  however  to   remark,  that  if  the  rebels  deserve  any  advantage 


424 


APPENDIX. 


i'rcni  it,  "twill  be  as  it  shall  affect  the  Codicils  of  Great  Bu tain  this 
Winter. 

"  The  French  Fleet  and  Army,  Rochambeau's  Troops  cxoertecl,  beinj? 
^ono,  the  Jiebels  are  as  unable  to  vnidertake  any  enterprise  a.s  before 
lioclianibeau's  Troops  have  laid  hold  ot  York  in  Virginia,  and  planted 
tlie  French  colours  there.  j'Tnd  it  would  seem  that  the  Continentals  must 
Winter  in  such  a  Part  of  the  neighboring  Country,  as  to  bo  able  to  aid 
them  in  case  of  an  Insurrection  of  the  numerous  British  Prisoners  and 
Loyalists,  and  our  visiting  the  Chesapeak.  It  is  impossible  for  Washing- 
ton to  have  detached  to  Green,  a  Force  sufficient  for  the  Reduction  of 
Charlestown;  tho'  he  may  and  doubtless  is  in  strength  to  ruin  his  frieniis 
as  well  as  ours  in  the  Southern  Country.  The  Congress  has  added  vastly 
to  their  debt;  and  cannot  avoid  increasing  the  general  Discontents,  noir  (he 
Taxes  arc  commenced  in  hard  vioiiei/ ;  so  that  what  they  acquire  of  Rep- 
utation by  the  late  victory,  which  after  ail  is  a  French  one,  is  counterbal- 
lanced  by  a  growing  im]iatienc(>  in  all  ranks  and  Classes,  under  the  in- 
tollcrable  and  increasing  Rurthen  of  the  War.  The  whole  Northern 
<iuarter  is  at  the  same  time  undefended,  and  while  tho  Sea  Board  is  every 
where  (>xposed  to  our  incursions,  the  Coniluct  of  Vermont  fills  all  the 
Northern  Provinces  with  apprehension,  that  may  rise  to  a  very  formida- 
ble fright  in  the  Spring,  if  Gen'l  Haldimand's  Compact  with  the  Ver- 
monters  is  put  in  a  way  of  being  confirmed  by  Great  Britain.  On  all 
considerations  thinking  men  among  the  Rebels  see  no  great  change  for 
the  better,  and  exult  less  than  is  imagined.  And  if  I  can  venture  a  con- 
jecture, it  would  be  that  Congress  will  direct  this  Winter  to  an  accom- 
modation with  Great  Britain,  unless  the  French  promise  large  succon, 
both  of  Land  and  Sea  Forces  as  well  as  Money,  for  the  Reduction  of  New 
Yoi-k  early  in  the  Spring. 

"  The  Vernionters  infornnMl  tho  Congress  last  August,  that  the  Militia 
within  their  Jirst  Bounds  consisted  of  7,000.  There  are  tj,000  more  in  the 
Towns  associated  with  them  between  Connecticut  River  and  Mason's 
Line;  and  I  think  nearly  2,000  more  in  the  District  they  have  admitted 
to  a  Uiuon  with  them,  out  of  that  part  of  New  York  that  lays  betwet>n 
the  Hudson  River  and  the  twenty  Mile  Line  East  of  it;  and  it  is  known 
that  large  Numbers  arc  flocking  to  Vermont,  and  who  are  interested  in 
her  priiate  as  well  as  public  views  out  of  the  Old  Colonies  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts  Bay,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut  and  New  York;  ami 
without  Doubt  the  example  of  the  convention  Troops  will  lead  to  that 
country  many  of  the  British  Soldiers  lately  made  Prisoners  in  Virginia. 

"  By  the  complete  Detachment  of  Vermont  from  the  Rebel  Interest, 
and  the  Reduction  of  the  Highlnnd  Forts  carh/  in  the  Spri>iq,  much  may 
be  exiiected  in  the  next  Campaign;  esjecially  sinci;  the  New  Yorkers  in 
gciieral,  and   a  very  great  proportion  of  the  Counti'y  between  them  and 


APPENDIX. 


42; 


the  Connecticut  Iiivor,  are  known  to  be  verj'  favorably  inclined  to  the 
Re-union.  If  the  lato  loss  in  Vir<,'inia,  whore  tho  British  must  bt;  danger- 
ous and  unwelcome  Guests,  is  to  be  made  up,  it  siiould  Ije  early  during  the 
Winter,  as  they  can  be  collected,  with  a  large  projiortion  of  them  in  the 
Ships  of  War,  setting  out  with  as  little  Observation  as  possilile  in  separate 
and  small  squadrons  of  Transports,  with  a  ship  or  two  to  c  irry  tleir  Provis- 
ions, and  not  in  large  Fleets. — And  at  all  erents-  there  must  he  a  Xaral 
Superioriti/  /»  these  Seas  in  Mnirh  or  Ajiril,  liccause  tliey  will  confine 
French  Iteinforcements  to  the  Place  of  tlieir  Disembarkation,  for  the 
ilefenco  of  their  Ships;  As  was  the  Case  at  Uhode  Island,  and  prevent 
any  Designs  against  New  York. 

"I  have  hinted  my  Conjecture  that  Congress  will  immediately  give 
orders  to  make  offers  to  negotiate.  It  appears  to  me  of  great  importance 
that  these  Negotiations  should  proceed  //;  this  Count ri/,  and  m^t  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Water,  e^pe^;ially  if  Great  Hrittain's  affairs  should  wear 
a  good  Face  for  a  vigorous  and  early  campaign. 

"  But  a  new  Peace  Coinniiss'on  is  iniJisjiensabh/  necessary.  Perplexed 
as  the  Congress  must  be  under  the  growing  uneasiness  of  the  Peo[ile, 
neither  Atl'eetion  to  the  French,  nor  a  repulilican  attaeiimeat,  nor  even 
tiie  Aims  of  xVmbition,  would  prevent  them  from  listening  to  Overtures 
tlutt  irere  (Jecisire  and  irrerersable,  if  themselves  could  be  secured  from 
the  vindictive  ilage  of  the  ^lultitude  they  have  misled,  oppressed  and 
ruined,  as  well  as  from  the  resentment  of  the  Crown.  Hitlierto  they  have 
lieen  offered  pardons  and  (Jeneral  Privileges,  with  a  Hestoration  of  their 
ii'.d  Legislatures.  But  a-  much  i  s  they  once  coittei.ded  for  a  Pleuitudi!  of 
Power  in  their  Colony  Assemblies,  they  have  now  everything  to  dread 
from  them;  fon  seeing  as  they  do.  that  these  Li'gislatures  will  l)e  com- 
posed of  Loyalists,  of  injured  Loyalists,  who  may  never  be  satisfied  but 
by  a  confiscation  of  the  Fortuaes  of  tho  Rebels  for  the  Repair  of  the 
Waste  of  their  own. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  in  this  case?  Pass  an  act  of  Parliament  for  an 
universal  Auuiesty  and  Oblivion?  By  no  means;  for  it  would  convert  the 
Loyalists  into  Rebels.  But  another,  to  authorize  the  Crown  to  appoint 
Commissioners  to  come  to  a  final  agreement  with  the  Colonies,  or  eitlier 
of  them,  and  that  every  act  of  the  Conunissioners  shall  Ije  as  valid  as  if 
it  was  an  act  of  Parliament,  non-rejiealable,  without  the  (,'onsent  of  the 
Colony  in  General  Assemlily,  whether  it  concern  matters  Ciril,  Commer- 
eial.  Military  or  lu'clesiastieal,  or  the  Adjustment  of  the  Affairs  of  \'er- 
mont,  or  any  Disputes  among  the  Provmces  respecting  their  Liniifs,  ^r 
any  other  differences  that  may  or  shall  subsist  befwee-n  them,  or  any  of 
them.  Such  Commissioners  will  be  full  handed  for  the  Gratilication  of 
the  reasonable  Desires  of  all  parties,  and  every  Colony  in  America;  and 
an  agreement  between  them  and  the  Congress,  or  any  partizans  of  theirs, 


i 


42G 


APPENDIX. 


will  lay  the  legislature  of  the  Colony  so  lar  under  Restraints  as  to  dispi  1 
all  their  fears;  and  with  this  end  attained,  1  have  no  doubt  the  Conunis- 
sioners  will  find  the  Tables  turned;  and  more  jealously  for  the  Interests 
of  America  in  the  Loyalists  than  their  Adversaries,  and  no  difficulty  at 
all  in  reserving  such  Points  as  may  really  deserve  Parliamentary  and  fu- 
ture discussion  and  approbation.  The  Point  of  Honor  in  Republics,  set 
against  the  Interest  of  the  Leaders,  will  then  avail  little;  and  the  Frencli 
Court  be  thus  at  last  dropped  l)y  America,  an  evi'nt  I  always  thought 
probable,  from  the  dithculty  of  dissolving  antient,  strong  and  natural 
Connections  and  Habits.  If  there  remains  any  obstinacy,  it  can  extend 
to  but  a  few  who  must  give  way  to  the  Torrent  of  Superior  Numbers, 
interested  i,  ore  and  more,  every  hour  of  the  hostilities,  in  the  return  of 
Peace;  and  a  very  little  activity  on  our  part  in  the  execution  of  the  Plan 
which  is  agreed  on,  will  determine  the  (leneral  Preference  of  a  State  of 
Tranquility  and  Prosperity  to  an  unprofitable  Soirrcirjuii/,  which  the  ma- 
jority already  considered  as  a  curse,  and  many  of  the  Kest  as  a  Phantom. 
The  exhausted  Conditon  of  the  Country,  exposing  it  inevitably  to  a  de- 
pendency upon  Great  Brittain,  or  upon  France,  to  whom  too  much  is  due 
not  to  raise  Fears  if  not  Enmity,  and  she  will  certainly  insist  upon  pay- 
ment to  the  rcn/  lost  F(nih'uig. 

"  It  can  scarcely  be  necessary  to  add  that  the  new  Peace  Commissioners 
should  have  every  Power  of  the  crown  for  the  appointment  of  officers, 
from  Governors  downwards,  that  when  they  return  to  Fnghiud.  they  may 
leave  the  Government  established  upon  such  a  Plan  as,  all  things  consid- 
ered, may  appear  to  be  expedient;  and  that  the  success  of  the  Commis- 
sion will  depend  much  upon  their  being  Persons  of  Rank,  and  rather 
Stf'icsDien  than  Soldicri^,  and  of  characters  in  estimation  for  the  Fulness 
of  their  Powers,  as  to  influence  the  Executive  instruments  both  of  the 
Army  and  Navy,  to  a  faithful,  fif)irite(l  and  harnionions  Conduct.  Such 
Guardians  have  been  heretolbre  wanting.  It  they  have  a  C'luncil,  as  I 
think  they  should  have,  to  prevent  the  Indelicacy  of  Altercation,  Regard 
should  be  had  to  their  Tempers,  Standing  and  Friendshii)s  in  this  Coun- 
try, as  well  as  ic-  their  Address  and  Knowledge  of  its  AjHiirs. 

"  All  these  tilings  are  suggested,  upon  the  supiKisition  that  Great  Brit- 
ain has  such  an  Interest  in  her  Colouies,  as  is  worth  fostering  for  tin- 
Common  Good.  It  will  be  melancholy  if  the  discovery  should  be  nuide 
too  late.  It  will  then  bring  Home  to  her  Streets  and  Exchange  Evidence 
that  ought  to  be  known  now  in  her  Cabinet,  and  will  pour  infinite  Dis- 
grace upon  tliose  who  shall  have  counselled  her  to  quit  her  Hold  of  a 
country,  which  she  may  make  her  Instrument  against  the  insular  Pos- 
sessions of  France,  and  the  best  Interests  of  Spain,  and  such  Proof,  when 
too  late  obtained,  vuti/  light  up  a  Civil  War  in  her  Natire  Dominions. 

"  Had  a  measure  been  adopted  which  Gen'l  Tryon  urged  upon  Sir  Henry 


APPENDIX. 


427 


Clinton,  in  Aupust,  1779,  Administration  would  lonjor  since  have  been  pos- 
sessed of  the  most  satisfactory  Demonstration  of  the  true  and  Heal  Ton- 
jiey  of  the  Colonies.  It  was  to  set  up  an  Intelligence  Ottice  for  An  Exam- 
ination in  Writing,  and  upon  Oath  of  Persons  of  all  ranks  and  ages,  and 
of  both  sexes,  that  repaired  to  the  British  lines,  to  be  communicated  to 
the  General,  and  another  set  of  copies  to  the  Minister  for  the  American 
Department,  with  a  weekly  digest  of  the  whole,  upon  the  probable  Pre- 
sumjition,  that  the  Points  in  which  every  ray  of  Infornuition  ceiiti'red 
would  bo  the  Truth;  And  when  the  Concourse  is  so  great  and  trom 
remote  Comers,  and  the  Intelligence  so  nuinifokl,  it  is  certain  that  the 
Complaint  of  the  want  of  it,  nmst  argue  great  Inatt(>ntion  to  tlu,'  i)ropcr 
means  of  acciuiring  it.  With  due  care  there  are  rarely  secrets  in  Civil 
Wars. 

"  It  cannot  be  worth  the  jjains  of  Stating  Arguments  against  the  flimsy 
l)roposal  of  some  for  evacuating  New  York,  the  Conunon  center,  by 
means  of  the  Hudson,  of  the  British,  Canadian  and  Indian  Interests  in 
America. 

"  Nor  against  the  wilder  scheme  of  others  for  yielding  Independiuice 
to  all  the  Continent,  to  the  Northward  and  Eastwanl  of  a  Line  of 
Forts  from  the  Head  of  Elk  Kiver  to  the  Delaware,  weakly  relying  upon 
a  Bargain,  tor  the  quick  Possession  and  Heti/ntion  of  the  Southern 
Provinces;  for  the  Produce  of  the  latter,  can  be  no  equivalent  for  the  Loss 
of  that  Commerce  which  the  former  would  open  to  the  Disadvantage  of 
the  Mother  Country,  and  the  Southern  Possessions  would  share  in,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  insecurity  of  the  Tenure  against  the  Power  those  tlistricts 
would  acquire  very  soon  after  Oreat  Britain's  acquiescence  in  the  Impair- 
ing of  that  monopoly  by  which  she  has  been  aggrandized,  and  for  which 
she  had  paid  down  such  a  price  in  the  Expenses  of  the  (.resent  War,  noir 
iH'ctrhf  at  an  end,  unless  she  dastardly  resigns  to  Despair,  or  resulves  to 
continue  that  strange  Conduct  which  has,  by  a  mixture  of  Conciliation 
and  Chastisement,  been  wasting  both  Countries,  as  if  the  Contest  was  a 
mea-uring  of  Purses;  but  which,  after  all,  it  it  ends  in  the  Re-union,  can 
not  fail  to  rivet  the  future  Dependence  of  the  Colonies,  on  their  discover- 
ing in  the  Retrosi>ect,  or  apprt^hending  that  they  discern  (in  at  Britain's 
Willingness  to  carry  on  the  War,  as  to  spare  what  it  was  always  in  her 
Power  to  destroy — a  credit  given  by  some  to  the  Supreme  Direction,  who 
allow  nothing  to  the  Generosity  of  the  Suliordinate  Agents  on  account  of 
the  Speculation  and  Plunders  that  have  so  generally  prevailed,  and  some- 
times against  the  plighted  Faith  of  Solenm  Proclamations." 


INDEX. 


A. 

ABEiicORN,  Marquis  of,  37G. 
Adams,  John,  104, 

Aha  its,  Samuel,  217. 

Adiuondacks,  105. 

Agnew,  General,  131. 

Allen,  Etiian,  expedition  to  Lake 
Goorjre,  Sd;  refuses  precedence  to 
Arnold.  39;  captures  Ticondcr- 
oga,  40;  his  da.sh  at  Montreal 
censured  by  Washington  and 
Schuyler,  46, 

Allen,  Lieutenant,   hrlngs   letter 
of  Jameson  to  Arnold,  announc- 
ing Andre's  arrest,  295. 
Andre,  John.  Major,  a  social  fa- 
vorite   in    Philadelphia,  223-  a 
guest  of  Chief  Justice  Shippen 
224;  Mischienza,  224;  correspond- 
ence with  Arnold,  287;  interview 
with  Arnold,   2>8;  his   return  to 
New  York,   290;  arrested  as  a 
spy,    291;    conducted    to  Lieut. 
Colonel  Jameson,  at  Newcastle" 
ii92;  writes  to  Washington  and 
acknowleilges     his    real     char- 
acter, 292;    is  brought     to  the 
Robmson     House  -Washington 
d.'chnes  to  see  him,  304;    sensa- 
tion in  Britisharmy,  305;  his  trial, 


306;  efforts  to  save  his  life,  30S(; 
his  letter  to  Washington,  309' 
execution,    313;    his    character,' 
313;  letter  to  Sir   Hem-y  Clinton, 
313;    Monument     in    Westmin- 
ster Abbey— remains  removed  to, 
315;  was  he  a  spy?. 322;  should 
the  pass    from  Arnold    in-otec^ 
him?  324. 

AuMs  of  the  Arnold  family,  363. 
Aknold,   Bkndict,   ancestors  of, 
16;  his  father,    17;    mother,   17- 
hirthof,  18;  his  father's  death,  19 • 
stories  of  boyhood,  21;  letters  of 
his  mother.  23;  enlists  as  a  sol- 
cuer,  24;  joins  the  troops  at  Al- 
bany-deserts, 25;  marriage,  27; 
personal  description   of,   29;  his 
first  duel,  31;    in    business,   .33- 
indignation  at  "Boston  massa- 
cre," 34;  Captain  of  the  Govern- 
or's Guards,  34;  a  popular  leader, 
3o;  volunteers  to  Cambridge,  36' 
proposes  expedition   to  Ticonde- 
roga,  37;  commissioned  Colonel 
38;  joins  Allen,  39;  Ticondero-a 
captured,  40;  captures  St.  Johns, 
41:    Massachusetts  thanks  him' 
43;  superseded,  44;  resi,vns  and' 
returns  to  Cambridge,  45;  death 
ot  his  wife,  47;  proposes  expedi- 


(429) 


430 


INDEX. 


tion  to  Quebec,  50;  selected  by 
Wasbington  to  commantl,  5iJ; 
details  of  expedition,  53;  holds 
an  Indian  Council,  73,  74;  his  ad- 
dress to  the  Indians,  74;  arrives 
at  Point  Levi,  75;  on  the  Plains 
of  Abraham,  76;  flag  fired  upon, 
78;  retires  to  Pointe-aux-Trem- 
bles,  78;  assault  upon  Quebec, 
80;  is  wounded,  83;  continues 
blockade,  87;  feoes  to  Montreal, 
88;  receives  the  Congressional 
Commissioners,  90;  retreats  to 
St.  Johns,  94;  letter  to  Gates,  95; 
proceeds  to  Crown  Point,  96;  in- 
tegrity attacked,  96;  charges 
against  Colonel  Hazen,  9S;  trial 
of  Hazen,  98;  protest  of  Arnold, 
100;  Gatos  dissolves  the  Court, 
101 ;  charges  against,  and  inqui- 
ry demanded  by  Brown,  102; 
refused  by  Gates,  Schuyler  and 
Commissioners  of  Congress,  103; 
his  conduct  approved  by  Schuyler, 
103,^04;  appointed  to  construct 
fleet  on  Lake  Champlain,  107; 
his  preparations,  108;  at  Isle  Val- 
conr,  109;  his  letters  to  and  from 
Gates  and  Schuyler,  110;  battle 
of  Valcour  Island,  112;  arrives  at 
Crown  Point,  117;  his  report  to 
Schuyler,  118;  thanked  by  Gates, 
120;  welcomed  at  Ticonderoga, 
121;  letter  from  Chase,  122;  visits 
Washington,  124;  sent  to  Rhode 
Island,  124;  visits  his  sister  and 
children,  124;  friendship  and  aid 
for  Lamb,  125;  letter  to  Mrs. 
Knox,  125;  superseded  by  five 
junior  brigadiers,  26;  with- 
holds resignation  by  advice  of 
Washington,  127;    other  officers 


equally  sensitive,  129;  fights  bat- 
tle of  Kidgeiield,  131;  receives 
promotion,  132;  and  ahorse  from 
Congro>s,133;  his  rank  still  with- 
held, 133;  charges  of  Brown  de- 
clared cruel  and  groundless,  133; 
off'ered  command  on  the  Hudson, 
134;  declines  and  goes  to  Phila- 
delphia to  ask  his  proper  rank 
and  settlement  of  his  accounts, 
134;  presents  his  accounts,  136; 
appointed  to  the  army  gathering 
to  watch  General  Howe,  137; 
British  General  retii-es  to  Bruns- 
wick and  Arnold  returns  to  Phila- 
delphia, 137;  again  tenders  his 
resignation,  138;  Washington 
requests  Congress  to  send 
Arnold  to  join  Schuyler  against 
Burgoyne,  139;  arrives  at  Wash- 
ington's camp,  147;  visits  a 
Masonic  Lodge  with  Washing- 
ton, 148;  made  second  in  com- 
mand, 148;  is  refused  his  r  aik  by 
Congress — withholds  resignation 
at  Schuyler's  request,  148;  vol- 
unteers to  lead  expedition  into 
Tryon  county,  154;  pushes  on  to 
Fort  Dayton,  154;  calls  a  council 
of  war,  155;  issues  proclamation, 
156;  announces  his  approach  to 
Gansevoort,  157;  by  i-use-de- 
guerre  relieves  Fort  Stanwix, 
159;  reception  at  Fort  Stanwix, 
162;  returns  to  Schuyler's  camp, 
163;  in  his  letters, /rtwi7/rtr  with 
Gates,  respectful  to  Schuyler, 
106;  commandf!  left  wing,  160; 
selects  Bemis'  Heights  for  camp, 
167;  a  coolness  on  the  part  of 
Gates  towards,  168;  friendly  to 
Schuyler,  169;  leads   at  Bemis' 


INP'X. 


431 


Iluights,  171;  who  led  the 
Americans  at  this  baltlo?  174; 
testimony  showiii<f  his  conduct  in 
this  battle,  175;  error  of  Bancroft, 
175;  the  battle  foufe'htby  Arnold's 
divison  and  under  his  leadership, 
177;  letters  of  Arnold  to  Gates, 
177;  Varrick's  letters  to  Schuyler, 
1G8,  179,  184;  letter  of  Schuyler, 
180;  letters  of  Livingston,  180, 
182;  evidence  of  Neilson,  185; 
statement  ot  Cochran,  186;  Bur- 
goyne's  statement,  186;  state- 
ment of  Irving,  187;  Lossing, 
188;  Carrington,  189;  statement 
of  Downing,  190;  quarrel 
between  Gates  and  Arnold,  193; 
deprived  of  command,  195;  in 
the  second  battle  of  Saratoga, 
198;  directs  Morgan  to  pick  off 
Fraser,  200;  wounded,  204;  Fos- 
ter's account  of  his  charge,  204; 
saves  the  life  of  soldier  who  shot 
him,  205;  Burgoyne's  surrender, 
209;  Arnold  receives  thanks  of 
Congress,  210;  receives  from 
Washington  new  commission 
giving  him  h's  proper  rank,  210; 
the  hero  of  the  campaign  of 
1777,  211;  carried  to  Albany  and 
there  during  autumn  and  winter 
of  1777-8,  213;  goes  to  Connecti- 
cut, 214;  Washington  presents  to 
him  pistols,  214;  epaulettes,  215; 
Washington's  letters  of  appro- 
bation, 215;  furnishes  money 
for  the  education  and  main- 
tenance of  the  children 
of  General  Warren,  216  ;  letters 
on  the  subject,  217  ;  arrives  at 
Valley  Forge,  221  ;  occupies  the 
Penn  House,  226  ;  suitor  of  Peggy 


Sliippon, — letter  to  her  father, 
228  ;  offer,  228  ;  settles  upon  her 
Mount  Pleasant,  231  ;  his  mar- 
riage, 231  ;  resides  here  until  his 
removal  to  A'  st  Point,  2:>2  ;  his 
domestic  lu  in  Philadelphia, 
233 ;  visited  by  his  sister,  233  ; 
birth  of  son,  233  ;  letter  of  Han- 
nah Arnold,  233  ;  Arnold's  pro- 
clamation to  close  stores  and 
shops,  238  ;  style  of  living  ex- 
travagant, 239  ;  charged  with 
leaning  toward  loyalists — the 
Shippen  family,  240  ;  his  project 
of  settling  in  Western  New  York, 
approved  by  John  Jay,  and  New 
York  delegation,  241  ;  charges 
by  Executive  Council  of  Penn- 
sylvania, 242 ;  published  in 
newspapers,  242;  declares  charges 
cruel  and  malicious,  242;  and 
deniands  court  of  inquiry,  243; 
list  of  charges,  243;  committee, 
to  investigate,  245;  report  of 
committee,  245  ;  sends  his  resig- 
nation, 247  ;  letter  to  Congress, 
247;  his  trial,  249  ;  his  defense, 
251;  judgment  of  the  court,  257; 
reprimanded  by  Washington, 
261;  letter  of  Schuyler,  263;  his 
treason,  265  ;  social  relations  in 
Philadelphia,  267;  dato  of  Ar- 
nold's first  correspondence  with 
enemy,  267;  what  his  motives, 
268  ;  arguments  used  to 
seduce  him,  271;  letter  of 
Beverly  Robinson,  275;  supposed 
interview  between  Arnold  and 
Robinson,  277;  proposed  enter- 
prise by  sea,  281;  interview  with 
Luzerne,  as  given  by  Marbois, 
282;    his  accounts  still  unsettled, 


432 


INDEX. 


2S3;  Wasliinfrton  congratulates 
liim  on  l)irth  of  his  son,  2"^4;  cor- 
responds with  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
under  name  of  "Gustavus,"  284; 
given  command  of  West  Point — 
at  Robinson  House,  285;  letters 
to  Wnshinffton  and  Greene,  286; 
visited  by  Sulmyler,  28(5;  a  tra- 
dition that  Arnold  often  said: 
"I  did  it  to  save  the  shcddinj^ 
of  blood,"  287;  requests  a  per- 
sonal meeting  with  Andre,  287; 
sends  a  boat  for  Andre,  287; 
meeting  of  Arnold  and  Andre, 
288;  gives  Andre  a  pass — sup- 
posed conversation  between 
them,  288;  Allen  arrives  with 
news  of  Andre's  capture,  2!)'); 
his  flight,  296;  to  the  Vulture, 
297;  the  bargemen,  297;  letter  to 
Washington,  299;  declares  his 
wile  and  military  family  inno- 
cent, 300;  arrives  at  New  York 
iind  informs  Sir  Henry^Clinton 
of  Andre's  capture,  302 ;  his 
future,  302;  his  letter  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  in  regard  to 
xVndre,  305;  appeals  to  Washing- 
ton for  Andre's  life,  30"^;  aUeged 
oU'er  to  sui'render  himself  for 
Andre,  311;  attempts  to  justify 
his  conduct — an  address:  "To  the 
Inhabitants  of  America,"  329; 
text  of  address,  330;  issues  a 
proclamation:  "To  the  Officers 
and  Soldiers  of  the  Continental 
Army,  &c."  332;  his  efforts  meet 
with  no  success,  335;  rank  of 
Brigadier-General  in  British 
Army  confiried,  335;  project  to 
kidnap  him,  336;  its  failure,  337; 
commands     expeditions   against 


Virginia,  313;  sails  from  New 
York  and  enters  Hampton 
Roads,  343;  takes  Richmond,  :>43; 
his  report  to  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton, 3i:M;  the  American  Cap- 
taii.'^;  reply  to  Arnold's  question, 
347;  5,000  guineas  ottered  for  his 
cajjture,  348;  re'urns  to  New 
York,  348;  expedition  against 
Connecticut,  348;  Massacre  at 
Fort  Griswold,  his  report,  348; 
receives  tiianks  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  352;  escapes  being  shot, 
354;  sails  for  England,  ;{55;  his 
reflections  as  he  leaves  his  native 
land,  357;  Lord  Cornwallis  a  fel- 
low passenger,  358;  reception  by 
the  King,  359;  seen  walking  with 
the  Prince  of  Wa'es,  :159;  pre- 
pares "Thoughts  on  the  Araeri- 
c.in  Wai."  359;  this  paper 
never  before  printed,  360;  syn- 
opsis of  this  papi'r,  361 ;  re- 
ceives £6,315  from  4he  Pritish 
Government,  363;  his  family 
arms,  363;  changes  motto,  364; 
the  Kings  and  Queen's  kindness, 
364;  at  Andre's  monument,  365; 
refused  employment  as  a 
soldier  in  England,  367;  rea- 
sons for,  368;  lives  bi^yond 
his  means,  3G8;  fits  out  a  ship  for 
the  West  Indies — goes  to,  369; 
removes  to  St.  John's,  New 
Brunswick,  and  enters  into  busi- 
ness, 370;  his  sons  Richard  and 
Henry  join  him,  370;  accused  of 
firing  his  wa'-ehous*^,  371;  re- 
turns to  London,  371;  meets  Tal- 
leyrand, 375;  duel  with  the  Earl 
of  Lauderdale,  37^':  particulars  of 
duel,  379;  again  fits  out  a  trailing 


INDEX. 


400 
00 


ship  anil  arrives  at  St.  Kitto,  OS'); 
his  escai  e  frDiii  the  French,  086; 
is  taken  prisoner  and  a<,'ain  es- 
capes, :'S7;  receives  thanks  from 
West  India  phmters,  OsS;  writes 
to  Karl  Spencer,  desirint:  to  he 
employed  as  a  soldier,  :W,);  the 
Kin;,'  yranls  to  him  1:!,4U0  acres 
of  land  in  Canada,  389;  appeals 
to  the  Didce  of  York  for  service, 
o9'J;  his  ille^'itiniate  son  in  Cana- 
da, 392;  his  death,  093;  his  char- 
acter, 096. 
AiiNOLD,  Enw.\HDni,Ai>wix,  Rev., 
marries,  April  'JTth,  l^^-Vi,  Lady 
Charlotte,  daughter  of  the  Mar- 
quis of  Cholmondelay,  410. 

AUNOLD,         EnWAKD  SlUTPEN, 

sketch  of  life;  dies  at  Dinapoor, 
India,  1810,  407. 

Aisxor.n.  TlAxxAir,  only  snrvivinjj 
sister  of  Benedict,  18;  never  mar- 
ries, 27;  praifcd  by  Sparks,  2S; 
correspondence  with  Deane,  28; 
takes  charge  of  iier  brother's 
children,  47;  letter  to  her  brother, 
47,  48;  visits  her  brother  at  Phil- 
adelphia. 230;  her  letter  to  Airs. 
Arnold,  200;  her  letter  on  hear- 
ing of  her  brother's  disgrace, 
000;  her  death,  405. 

Arxot,',  Hknuy,  son  of  Benedict 
Arnold,  by  first  wife,  27;  mar- 
ried Hannali  Ten  Eyck,  405  ; 
commissioned  lieutenant  in  the 
American  Legion,  405:  dies  in 
New  York,  405. 

\knold,  George,  a  lieutenant  col- 
onel ;  so  named  by  his  father  af- 
ter AVashingtun  and  George  IV., 


4C9. 


AuNOi.n,  .Ia.mes  Hoi.kktson,  born 
in  New  York,  17X1;  marries  Vir- 
ginia (loodricli;  ri  ea  to  rank  of 
Lieutenant-lieneral  in  British 
army,  407;  engaged  in  capture 
of  Abouker  Castle;  in  battle  of 
Alexandria  and  in  expulsion  of 
the  French  irom  (irand  Cairo; 
storms  a  redoubt,  408;  appointed 
aide-de-camp  to  (ieorge  the 
Fourth,  408;  dies  in  London,  ls54, 
409. 

Anxoi.n,  Mrs.,  maiden  name  Mar- 
garet Shippen,  daughter  of 
Chief  .lustice  Sliippen — marriage 
of,  2:U;  joins  her  husband  at 
West  Point,  286;  her  distress 
when  .\rnoltl  discloses  his  p.osi- 
tion,  295;  interview  with  Wash- 
ington, liul;  kindness  of  Wash- 
ington and  otliccrs  to.  0,16;  was 
she  innocent  of  her  husb;,nd's 
crime?  016;  .Arnold  declares  her 
innoe  nee,  018;  Hami'ton  and 
Washinuton  believe  h"r  inno- 
cent, :518;  Major  Frank  s  testi- 
mony in  her  favor,  Of"^:  eoiidiict 
incompatible  with  guilt,  :'>2n; 
compelled  to  leave  by  ti.e  Coun- 
cil of  Pennsylvania — follows  hrr 
husband  to  New  York,  •'121;  ac- 
companies hor  hiisliand  to  Kng- 
laiid,  055;  lii'r  fascination  and 
beauty — attention  of  the  Queen, 
062;  is  granted  a  pension,  360; 
letter  to  her  lather.  069;  her 
father's  reply,  072;  letter  to  Mrs. 
Burd,  072;  visits  her  family  in 
Philadel|iliia,  070;  returns  to 
Lonilon,  'M'-\  gives  details  of  her 
husband's  duel,  081;  letter  to 
Ivichard,    384;      announces      to 


23 


131 


INDEX. 


Kichfinl  find  Henry  their  fath- 
t'r's  (leatli,  394;  uIko  to  Iliiniiuh 
Arnold,  :j94;  executrix  of  her 
liusbanil,  400;  her  executive 
ahility— k'tters,  400;  death  of, 
40G;  character  of,  400;  her  chil- 
dren, from  40(5-417. 
AuNOU),  Soi'iiiA  Matilda,  daugh- 
ter of  Henetlict,  born  in  London, 
July  2!^th,  1785;  jnarries  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Pownall  Phipp.s — 
death  of,  411. 

AiiNOLi),  RiciiAlin,  birth  of,  27; 
marries,  405;  commissioned  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  American  Lcf^ion, 
405. 

AiiNOM),  William,  an  ancestor  of 
Benedict,  and  a  contemporary  of 
Koj,'er  Williams,  16. 

AiiNoiii),  William  Fitch,  captain 
in  the  19th  Royal  Lancers;  his 
residence  Little  Messenden  Ab- 
bey, Bucks,  410. 

Ahnoli),  Ben.,  his  death,  note  405. 

AiiNOLl),  WiLLiAM  TiiAiL,  brother 
of  the  Rev.  Edward  Gladwin  Ar- 
nold and  grandson  of  Gen.  Ar- 
nold, a  captain  in  the  British 
army,  410;  in  the  battles  of  Iidc- 
erman,  Alma,  and  with  his  re<,'- 
iment  before  Sebastopol,  410; 
kUled  in  the  trenches — manner 
of  his  death,  410. 

Atwateu,  Major,  303. 

B. 

Balcarkas,  Earl  of,  196. 

Banchoft,  comyiarison  of  British 
tleet  with  Arnold's  HI;  declares 
Gates  had  "no  fitness  for  com- 


mand," 165;  on  1)attleof  Bemis' 
Hi'JKhts.  175;  error  '  stating? 
that  Arnold  was  not  on  the  fieUI, 
175;  his  description  of  the  death 
of  Eraser,  20S. 

Baulow,  Jokl,  the  poet,  21. 
Battlks,   Notable  on  the  Lakes, 
111. 

Bai'm,  defeat  of,  near  T'enninjjton, 
164. 

Bkdkll,  Colonel,  tnnler  Arnold 
holds  till!  Cedare — is  cashi(n'ed,  90. 

Bemis'  Hkkmits,  position  for  cau^p 
at  selected  by  Arnold,  169;  posi- 
tion of  Armies  at,  170;  Ijattle  of, 
171. 

Bethel,  130. 

BoAun  OF  Oi'KirKTts  to  try  Andre, 

.■J06;  reports  him  a  spy  and  nmst 
sutler  death,  :?06. 

Boston  Massacue.  33. 

Botta,  the  historian,  on  Arnold's 
exp:nlition  to  Qiu'bec.  71. 

BitKYMAN,  Colonel,  a  British  officer 
killed  in  2nd  battle  of  Saratoga, 
206. 

Buyant,  with  Capt.  Foster  at  "the 
Cedars,"  91;  with  St.  Leger,  141. 

BuowN,  Lieutenant-Col.,  his  ditfi- 
culti(;s  with  Arnold,  102 ;  de- 
mands a  Court  of  Inquiry,  102  ; 
inquiry  refused  by  Generals 
Wooster,  Gates,  Schuyler,  and 
Commi.ssionei-s  of  Congress,  1(J3  ; 
letter  of  Schuyler  criticising 
Brown,  103. 

Bhunswick,  English  retire  to,  137. 

Buchanan,  James,  British  Consul 


INDEX. 


435 


the 
141. 

(le- 

102  ; 

riorals 

iinil 

103 ; 

cisinj? 


at  Now  York,  removes  Andre's 
roniains  to  Westminster  Abbey, 

yi5. 

Hi'nn,  Mrs.,  sister  of  Mrs.  Arnold, 
l(.'ttcr  to,  ;372. 

BunooYNK,  fieneral,  connected  by 
marriii|,'(!  with  liouseof  Derby— a 
soldier  in  Spnin,  14-"!  ;  moves  to- 
wards (.'rown  Point  with  his 
army,  14.'' ;  reports  American 
army  ruined,  14"»  ;  battle  of  U»tli 
Hept.,  170  ;  sjieaks  of  Arnold's 
bravery  in  battle  of  19th  Sept., 
ISO ;  Battle,  Oct.  7th,  195  :  at- 
temjjts  to  retreat,  209  ;  surren- 
ders, 209  ;  describes  the  burial 
of  Fraser,  208. 

BuKH,  A.Mtox,  a  volunteer  with 
Arnold,  51;  his  charge  that  Mrs. 
Arnold  was  privy  to  her  hus- 
band's treachery,  316;  motives, 
320. 

0. 

CAMBninoE,  30),  45,  47,  49. 

Carleton,  Guy,  Sir,  brings  rein- 
forcements to  Quebec,  7S;  treats 
the  prisoners  with  kindness,  8G; 
occupies  St  Johns,  106;  prepares 
a  fleet  for  Lake  Champliiin,  lOf); 
at  battle  of  Valcour  Island,  102; 
at  court  with  Arnold,  359. 

Carrixgton,  General,  statement 
of  Arnold  \s  conduct  at  Bemis' 
He: -his,   isO,   at  Saratoga,  202. 

Carroll,  Cuart.es,  appointed 
commissioner  to  Ciinada,  90;  vis- 
its Arnold's  headquarters  90; 
defends  Arnold's  conduct  in  re- 
moval of  goods  at  Montreal,  102. 

Carroll,  John,  Rev.,  first  Roman 


Catholic  .\rchbi8hop  of  the  Uni- 
ted Stites,  accompanies  commis- 
sionors  to  Canada,  90. 

"Cedars,"  The,  90,  91. 
CiiASE,  Samiel,    Comissioner    to 
C'anada,  90;  letter  to  Arnold,  122. 

ClFAMnLAY,  95. 

CiiAMPLAiN.  Lake,  description  of 
105;  naval  battle  on,  112-114. 

Ciivmim;,  Sergeant.  Agi>nt  of  Maj. 

Lee  to  kidnap  Arnold,  33G  ;    his 

attempt,  337. 

CiiKSTKU,  Major,  183, 

CiiuRciiiLL,  Duke  of  Marlborough, 
273. 

Clinton,  Henry,  Sir,  conspiracy 
with  Arnold,  284;  realizes  impor- 
tance of  West  Point,  287;  in- 
formed by  ArnoKl  of  Andre's 
capture,  302;  his  letter  to  Wash- 
ington in  regard  to  Andre,  'MH)  ; 
his  letter  tj  Lord  (Jeorge  Ger- 
main on  behalf  of  Arnold,  .358. 

Cochran,  Maj..  report  of,  describ- 
ing Arnold's  battle  on  the  19th 
Sept.,  186. 

Congress,  of  Massachusetts, 
thanks  Arnold  for  his  services,  43. 

Congress  of  United  State.?,  ap- 
points Commissioners  to  Canada, 
'JO;  elects  five  Major-Generals, 
126;  presents  a  horse  to  Arnold, 
133;  passes  a  resolution  of  thanks, 
133;  declares  charges  of  I.^rown 
cruel,  but  refuses  his  proper  rank, 
135;  action  in  regard  to  Warren's 
children,  2'20. 

Connecticut,  Arnold  returns 
from,  284. 


43G 


INDEX. 


Cooi'Kii,  James  Fenimoue,  299. 

L"nHN\v.\i,i,is,  Lord,  fiiun'iuli'rs  to 
WaHliiiif^ton,  ;?•'»•');  a  ft;llow  pas- 
senger wiih  Arnulil  to  Eiij,'liincl, 
\m;  MU'va  of  Arnold  to,  ;J8S; 
ii8<'s  his  intori'stH  in  beliiilf  of  Ar- 
nold's sons,  IJ'JJ. 

Chamaii.v,    Liouteniint   Governor, 

77. 

CiiowN  Point,  37;  Arnold  pro- 
ceeds to,  OR;  retreat  from,  'J6. 

CuosKiE,  Captain,  duel  with  Ar- 
nold, 31. 

CuHTis,  Geohoe  Wii.ijaw,  ora- 
tion on  IJeniis'  Heights,  IGl. 

D. 

Davfs,  MatiieW  L.,  bioprraiiher, 
of  Burr,  :U6;  charges  ayainst  Mrs. 
Arnold,  ill. 

Danbury,  130. 

DeANE,  HAnXABAS,  45. 

Deane,  Silas,  writes  of  the  bad 

treatment  of  Aniold,  45. 
Dead  Ri\  kh.  the.  53. 
Deai!1J)1{X,  Captain,  in  the  expe- 
dition to  Quebec,  GO;  1!J7. 
Debuois,  Miss,  Arnold  in  love  with, 

D. 
Description',  personal,  of  Arnold, 

by    Downing,  29;    by  John  C. 

AVarren,   221;     by    Rev.    J.    L. 

Leake,  29. 
Downing,  personal  description  of 

Arnold,  29;  on  Arnold's  condact 

in  battle,  190. 
Dccondray;  a  French  oflRcer,  129. 
Duel,  Arnold's  with  Captain  Cros- 

kie,  31;  with  Etu'I  of  Lauderdale, 

37G. 


E. 

KnrcATioN,  Arnold's  early,  23. 

Km.iot,  Anduew,  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral, 308. 

Knolisk,  view  of  Arnold's  conduct, 
273. 

KiNos,  RooEU,  al)andons  Arnold's 
expiMlition,  05;  trial  put  under 
arrest  by  Washinf,'ton,  69. 

Expeditions,  Arnold's,  to  Ticon- 
deroga,  37;  to  Quebec,  5:!;  into 
Virj^inia,  342;  into  Connecticut, 
318. 

F. 

Family,  of  Arnold,  405. 

Faiufiei.d,  130. 

FoiiT  Dayton,  council  held  at,  155. 

FoHT  GuiHWOLD,  SO  Called  nuissa- 
cre  at,  'MS. 

FouT  TuuMuuLL,  :]48. 

FosTEU,  Senator,  n-lates  incidents 
of  Arnold's  conduct  at  Saratoy:a, 
204. 

Fox.  CiiAULKS  James,  the  second 
of  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale,  in  duvl 
with  Arnold,  378. 

FuANKLiN,  Benjamin,  coimnis- 
sioned  by  Congress  to  Canada, 
90;  at  Arnold's  Head-Quarters, 
90. 

Franks,  Major,  declared  innocent 
by  Arnold,  300;  denial  of  Mrs. 
Arnold's  knowledge  of  her  hus- 
band's treason,  318;  accompanit  s 
Mrs.  Arnold  to  Philadelphia,  310. 

Frazer,  Major-General,  143;  at 
Saratoga  mortally  wounded,  199; 
his  death— picked  off   by  Mor- 


INDEX. 


437 


pan's  rifliMnon  at  AmokVs  sug- 
yi'sHon,  'JOG;  burial,  207. 

KiiKENfAHONS,  Washington  &  Ar- 
nold at  lodge  oF,  14S. 

FuKNcii  Wak,  the  old,  24. 

G. 

(Jansevoort,  at  FortStanwix,  in- 
invested  by  St.  Leper,  149;  re- 
fuses to  surrender,  149;  Arnold 
relieves  him,  158. 

(Jatks,  (ieneral,  letter  to  Arnold, 
51;  at  Crown  Point,  9G;  supports 
Arnold  in  affair  of  Col.  Ha/.en, 
101 ;  iufurnis  Congress  that  Ar- 
nold has  undertaken  to  connnand 
fleet,  107;  returns  thanks  to  Ar- 
nold alter  buttle  of  Valcour  Is- 
land, 120;  supersedes  Hehuyler, 
IGo;  concentrates  the  Northern 
army  on  Bemis  Heights,  IGO; 
thinks  of  superseding  Washing- 
ton, 168;  not  on  the  field  at 
Uemis  Heights,  174;  in  report  to 
Congress  makes  no  mention  of 
Arnold,  177;  Pique  against  Liv- 
ingston, 183;  desires  the  wholt; 
credit  against  Rurgoyne,  19;!; 
drives  Arnold  to  demand  a  pass 
to  Washington,  194;  indebted  to 
Arnold  for  his  laurels,  209;  Uur- 
goyne  surrenders,  and  Gates  is 
thanked  by  Congress,  210;  Con- 
gress votes  him  a  medal,  21.3. 

Genealogy,  of  the  Arnold  family, 
18. 

Germain,  Lord,  Burgoyne  reports 
condition  of  American  army  to, 
144;  letters  to,  from  f^ir  Henry 
Clinton,  in  behalf  of  Arnold.  358. 

GER.MAN  Flats,  155, 


Ginsov,  Mr.  .318. 

Green,  Natiianikl,  requests  per- 
mission to  retire  from  the  service, 
129;  eonfer.H  with  Knglish  oflicers 
who  came  to  Washington  on  bo- 
half  of  Anilre,  3)8;  note  to  Gen- 
eral Robertson,  informing  him  of 
Washington's  decision,  :iu.S. 

'Green  Mountain  Boys,' 40. 

II. 

Hat,k,  Nathan,  hanged  as  a  spy 
by  the  British,  31/). 

Hamilton,  Col.  Alex.,  can-ies 
Washington's  message  to  Mrs. 
Aniuld,29.'');  aide  to  Washington. 
299;  attempts  to  capture  Arnold 
— fails,  299;  his  letter  touching 
Mrs.  Arnold — declares  her  inno- 
cent—  letter  on  Andre's  doatli, 
309;  refuses  to  propose  to  Andre 
his  exchange  for  Arnold,  311. 

Hampton  Roads,  Arnold  at,  342. 

Harrington,  Earl  of,  376. 

Hawke,  Lord,  Arnold's  second  in 
duel,  378;  endorses  Arnold's  statc- 
mtmt  of  the  duel,  381. 

HartI'-ouo,  Washington  visits 
French  officers  at,  294. 

Hazex.  Col.,  charges  made  against 
by  Arnold — his  trial  by  Court- 
Martial,  9S. 

Heath,  General,  Statement  of,  in 
regard  to  Arnold's  treatment  of 
crew  of  his  barge,  297;  his  ac- 
count of  expedition  against  New 
London,  353. 

Henry's  Journal,  62,  65,  6G  to  70. 

Henry,  Patrick,  35. 


438 


INDEX. 


IlEnKiMEU,  General,  advances  to 
tlio  relief  of  Fort  Schuyler,  149; 
caught  in  an  ambush,  151 ;  battle 
of  Oriskany;  death  of,  152;  county 
and  town  named  for  him,  152. 

IIonYost,  Sciiuylku,  sentenced  to 
death  as  a  spy,  159;  his  ruse  to 
relieve  Fort  Schuyler,  161. 

HoNiTON,  27;3. 

HoitsExiANsiiir,  Arnold's,  27. 

Howe,  General,  threatens  Philadel- 
phia, but  retires  to  Brunswick, 
i;57;  with  a  Briash  army  takes 
possession  of  I'hiladelphia,  222; 
he  and  his  officers  pass  a  gay  win- 
ter in  that  city,  223. 

Hudson,  Arnold  offerd  commend 
of  the,  l;M. 

I. 

luviNG,  Washington,  the  conduct 
of  Arnold  in  naval  affairs  on  the 
lakes,  105;  battle  of  Bemis 
Heights,  187;  Arnold's  dispute 
with  authorities  of  Philadelphia, 
238;  Reed's  personal  hostility  to 
Arnold,  243:  time  when  Arnold 
first  entertained  thoughts  of  trea- 
son, 283. 

J. 

Jameson,  Lieut.  Col.,  Andre 
brought  prisoner  to, — sends  to 
Washington  papers  found  on  An- 
dre, 292:  sends  to  Arnold  state- 
ment of  the  arrest  of  John  Ander- 
son, 292. 

Jay,  John,  Colonel  Livingstone 
goes  to  Spain  as  his  secretary, 
185;  letter  in  regard  to  Arnold, 
241. 


Jamestown,  343. 

James  Riyeu,  The,  343, 

Jefkeuson,  341;  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, 34:3;  offers  reward  for  Ar- 
nold, 347. 

Jewett,  Dr.,  Arnold  at  school  of, 
24. 

Johnson,  Sir  John,  with  St.  Leger 
in  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  141 

Johnson,  Sir  Wiixiam,  a  Tory  on 
the  Mohawk,  142. 

K. 

Kennebec,  river,  50. 
King  George,   the   Fourth,    Ar- 
nold's reception  by,  359. 
King's  Fehky,  284. 

Knox,  Gen.,  resigns  conditionally, 
329;  with  Washington  at  Hart- 
ford, 294. 

Knox,  Mrs,   Arnold's  letter  to,  125. 

L. 

LaFayette,  aide  to  Washington, 
with  Washington  at  Hartford, 
294;  at  West  Point,  294;  Wash- 
ington discloses  Arnold's  treason 
to,  299;  instructed  to  execute  Ar- 
nold, if  captured,  338;  sent 
against  Arnold,  343. 

Lake  George,  41, 

Lamb,  Gen'l,  in  the  assault  on  Que- 
bec, 82;  Arnold's  i'riendship  for, 
125;  Arnold  procures  his  ex- 
change, and  furnishes  £1,000  to- 
wards expenses  of  raiding  his  reg- 
iment, 125;  his  defense  of  Arnold 
at  Gates' dinner,  (note)  206, 

Larvey,  Corporal,  his  reply  to  Ar- 
nold, 297, 


INDEX. 


439 


Lacdehdale,  Earl  of,  duel  with 
Arnokl,  376. 

Laukens,  Col,  Henuy,  Fnmilton's 
letter  to,  on  Andre's  Irial,  oOG 
President      of     Congress  —  ex- 
changed for  Cornwallis,  358. 

Leauned,  General,  UA. 

Lee,  Major,  undertakes  to  kidnap 
Arnold,.  336. 

Lee,  Riciiahd  Hexuy,  writes  to 
Jeti'erson  of  Arnold's  persecution, 
135. 

liExtNGTOK,  battle  of,  35. 

LrviNGSTON,  writes  to  Schuyler, 
169;  explains  cause  of  quarrel  be- 
tween Arnold  and  Gates,  169; 
letters  to  Schuyler  from  Bemis' 
Heights,  180;  marries  sister  of 
John  Jay,  1S5;  becomes  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  185. 

Lincoln,  General,  elected  Major 
General,  126;  given  by  Gates' 
command  of  right  wing  at  sec- 
ond battle  of  Saratoga,  195;  at 
Albany,  213. 

London  Chronicle,  273. 

Lord,  Kev.  Dr.,  restores  Arnold  to 
his  mother,  24. 

LossiNG  on  General  Arnold  at  Yal- 
cour  Island,  117;  his  conduct  at 
Bemis  Heights,  1S8;  "officers 
and  soldiers  had  lost  confidence 
in  Gates,"  191. 

Loyalists,  during  the  Revolution, 
340. 

Luzerne,  282;  his  interview  with 
Arnold,   as    given    by    Marbois, 


M. 

Macauley,  Lord,  on  Churchill's 
desertion  of  James,  279. 

Mahon,  Lord,  condemns  Washing- 
ton for  ordering  the  execution  of 
Andre,  322. 

Mansffeld,  Margaret,  first  wife  of 
Arnold,  27;  death  of.  47. 

Marrois,  states  tliat  a  letter  writ- 
ten by  Robinson  was  found  among 
Arnold's  i  apers,  27o;  that  Arnold 
Iried  to  obtain  'a  loan  from  Lu- 
zerne, 282,  283. 

Marriage,  Arnold's  first,  27;  sec- 
ond, 231. 

JIartin,  Prof.,  Law  of  Nations  re- 
lating to  a  spy,  324. 

Massachusetts,  commissions  Ar- 
nold Colonel,  US;  commissioners 
of,  sent  to  'lionderoga,  44. 

Marshai.l,  John,  on  the  expedi- 
tion to  (^lebec,  89;  battle  of  Val- 
cour  Island,  120;  distress  of  troops 
at  time  of  Arnold's  treason,  273. 

McLain,  Colonel,  77. 

McCrea,  Jane,  story  of,  145. 

McDougal,  General,  letter  of 
Washington  to,  in  regard  to  Ar- 
Lold,  i:}4. 

MiDDLETOWN,    213. 

Misciiienza,  the  famous,  224. 

MiFFT.ix,  elected  nuyor-general, 
126. 

Mohawk,  valley  of  the,  141. 

MoRRisTOWN,  Arnold  at,  34. 

Morgan,  Daniel,  a  captain  in  Ar- 
nold's I'xpedition  to  Quebec,  51; 
leads  his  riHemen  in  the  assault 


440 


INDEX. 


on,  82;  taken  pnsor.er,  83;  at 
battle  of  Saratx)ga  directs  rifle- 
men to  pick  off  Fraser,  200. 

MoNTGOMEUY,  Captures  St.  Johns 
and  Montreal,  79;  joins  Arnold, 
79;  killed  in  assault  upon  Que- 
bec, 81;  his  friendship  for  Ar- 
nold, 80. 

MoNTUESOR,  Colonel,  50. 
Montrose,  273. 

Montreal,  Allen's  unfortunate 
dash  at,  46;  Wooster  in  command 
at,  83;  Arnold  takes  command 
of,  88. 

Natanis,  an  Indian  chief,  55. 

Nelson,  Lord,  164. 

New  Castle,   Andre  prisoner  at, 

291. 
New  Haven,  19;  130;  303. 
Newark,  336. 
New  London,  expedition  against, 

348. 
New  York,  Arnold  aiTives  at,  302. 
North,  Lord,  355. 
NoRWALK,  Tryon  at,  132. 
Norwich,  19;  occupants  of  the  old 

Arnold  mansion  at,  19;  Arnold 

ordered  to,  124. 

o. 

OuisKANY,  Battle  of,  151. 
Oswego,  141. 

P. 

Paine,  Thomas,  341. 

Papers,  found  in  Andi-o's  boots, 
291;  sent  on  to  Washir     jn,  292. 

Parsons,  Col.  Samuel  IL,  letter  to 


Governor  Trumbull,  about  Ticon- 
deroga,  42. 

Pass,  should  Arnold's  pass  protect 
Andre?  324. 

Paulding,  John,  one  of  the  cap- 
tors of  Andre,  291. 

Peace,  between  United  States  and 
Great  Britain,  367. 

Peace  Commissioners,  New,  rec- 
onmiendod  by  Arnold,  361. 

Peekskill,  134. 

Pellew,  afterwards  Viscount  Ex- 
mouth,at  battle  of  Valcour  Island, 
112. 

Peters,  Rev.  Samuel,  gives  anec- 
dote of  Arnold,  35. 

Pktersburgii,  Arnold  at,  361. 

Phillips,  General,  under  Bur- 
goyne,  143;  sent  to  Arnold  in 
Virginia,  343;  captured  with  Bur- 
goyne — and  death  of,  347. 

Philadelphia,  evacuated  by  the 
British,  222;  life  in  that  city,  223. 

Pitt,  Mr.,  376. 

Point  Levi,  Arnold  at,  75. 

Point-aux-Trembles,  Arnold's 
camp  at,  79 

Point- a-Peter,  Arnold  at,  386. 
"  Poor  Bex,  "  General  Arnold's  old- 
est son,  404;  death  of,  405. 

Portland,  Duke  of  orders  the 
grant  of  lands  to  Arnold,  389. 

Portsmouth,  Virginia,  Arnold 
marches  to,  343. 

Provost,  Mrs.,  wife  of  Colonel 
Burr.  317. 

Putnam,  General,  leaves  his  plough 


INDEX. 


441 


and  joins  Arnold,  36;    at  dinner 
with  Lamb,  &c.,  (note)  206. 

Q. 

<.^:ei!kc,  tlie  Gibraltcr  of  America, 
■id;  details  of  Arnold's  expedition 
to  53-73;  assault  on,  80-83. 

11. 

Kalle,  Father,  59. 

Kkdiesel,  General,  143. 

Keed,  General,  persecution  of  Ar- 
nold; makes  charges  against; 
letter  to  Gen.  Green,  240;  circu- 
lar with  charges  widely  circu- 
lated; his  hostility  personal,  243. 

KicHMOND,  Arnold  at,  343. 

HicHMOND,  Duke  of,  376. 

KoiiEUT.sox,  Lieut.  General,  308. 

Konixsox,  Beverly,  Loyalist,  tra- 
dition of  meeting  between  him 
ard  Arnold,  274;  their  conversa- 
tion, 277;  has  the  confidence  of 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  285;  intercedes 
for  Andre,  308. 

KoMTLLY,  the  English  jurist,  con- 
siders Andre  a  spy,  326. 

S. 
Sabixe,  says  that  Robinson  was  in 
communication  with  Arnold  be- 
fore the  latter  went  to  West 
Point,  275;  the  number  of  the 
Loyalists  according  to,  3  !5.  Says 
"  Ben "  was  driven  from  the 
service,  405. 

Sahatoga,  Battle  of,  19th  Sept., 
171;  second  battle  of,  196. 

Haroext,  did  Arnold  offer  to  sur- 
render himself  for  Andre?  311 
312. 


Scott,  Major,  100. 

Scott,  Sir  Walter,  338. 

SciiUYEER,  Philip,  General,  com- 
manding a  provincial   company, 
25;  leads  an  army  into  Canada, 
50;  writes  to  Washington  of  the 
assault  on  Quebec,  85;  with  Ar- 
nold and  Gates  at  Crown  Point, 
and  retreat  to  I'iconderoga,  96: 
supports  Arnold  in  difficulty  with 
Colo  >el  Brown,  103;  glad  to  hear 
Arnt  .d  is  to  command  the  fleet, 
107;  is  censured  for  retiring  be- 
fore Burgoyne,   145;   retreats  to 
Stillwater,  148;  determines  to  re- 
lieve Fort  Stan  wix,  1-53;  his  call 
for  volunteers  to  conduct  the  ex- 
pedition,    154;     superseded     by 
(iates,  105;  letter  to  Vi'.rick  in  re- 
gard  to  Arnold,   193;    letter   to 
Arnold  after  his  trial,  203. 

ScHi'Yr.EK,  Miss,  engaged  to  Col. 
Ilaniiltun,30i;  letters  from  llam- 
iltonto,  301,309. 

Sexier,  Dr.,  his  journal,  83. 

SiiiPi'EX,  Edward,  Chief  Justice, 
224;  his  daughters,  227;  portrait 
of,  393;  death  of,  413. 

SiiirPEN,  Miss  Peogy,  in  the  Mis- 
chienza,  224;  her  beauty,  227. 

SiLLiMAN,  General,  assists  in  re- 
pelling Tryon,  130. 

"Six  Natioxs,  The,"  150. 

Skexe,  Major,  41. 

Smith,  Chief  Justice,  303. 

Smith,  Joshua  ITitt,  statemrnt 
of,  regarding  correspondence  be- 
iv,  jen  Arnold  and  Beverly  Rob- 
inson,   270;  Arnold   and   Andre 


442 


INDEX. 


lireakfast  at  house  of,  28^;  Ar- 
nold g-ivos  pass  to,  288;  Andre 
passes  the  day  at  house  of,  290; 
acts  as  guide  to  Andre,  290. 

Si'.vuKs,  on  letters  of  Hannah  Ar- 
nold, 28;  explains  Arnokl's  seiz- 
ure* of  goods  at  Montreal,  101; 
praises  Arnold's  l)ravery  at  Val- 
cour  Island,  117;  pr.iises  his  mag- 
nanimity in  volunteering:  aj^ainst 
liurg'oyne,  lo9;  his  account  of 
second  battle  of  Saratoga,   2();i 

Spy,  was  Andre  a,  322;  Vattel's 
definition  of,  324.    • 

Stanwix  Fout,  where  city  of 
Rome,  N.  Y.,  now  is,  14S;  sie<re 
of,  141;  relief  of  by  Arnold,  lo8. 

St.  ('r.AiH,  elected  Major-General, 
126;  occupies  Ticonderoga,  143; 
retreats  ironi,  144;  censured  for, 
145. 

Stanley,  Dean,  Americans  at 
Andre's  Monument,  ;i()j. 

Stauk,  Col.,  fights  battle  of  Ben- 
nington, 1(50. 

Stepiiex,  elected  Major-General, 
12G. 

STiHi.iXfi.  commissioned  Major- 
General  by  Congress,  126. 

Stiulino,  Sir  Wai.teu.  presents 
Arnold  to  the  King,  3o9. 

Stokies.  of  Arnold's  boyhood,  21. 

St.  Leg  Kit,  expedition  of,  into  the 
vnll(\v  of  the  Mohawk,  141  ;  de- 
mands the  surrender  of  Fort 
Schuyler,  152 ;  flees  at  Arnold's 
approach,  161. 

St.  Johns,  captured  by  Arnold.  41; 
occupied  by  the  English,  106. 


St.  .Johns,  New  Brunswick,  Arnold 
removes  to,  370. 

SuM,iAAN,  General,  letter  on  Ar- 
nold's retreat  from  Canada,  95  ; 
retreats  to  Crown  Point,  90 ; 
sends  in  resignation,  129. 


Taij.eyrani),  meeting  of,  with  Ar- 
nold, 375. 

'I'am.madoe,  Major,  arrives  at  the 
Robinson  House  with  Andre,  301; 
their  conversation  on  the  way. 
304;  his  friendshij)  for  Andre, 
304;  advises  Andre  of  his  fate, 
305. 

Taitan,  Andre  hanged  as  a  spy 
at,  309. 

Tauleton,  the  beauty  of  Mrs.  Ar- 
nold, 362. 
Taukytown,  Andre  taki'ii  at,  293. 
Teller's  Point,  207. 

TicoNDEUOfJA,  Arnold  proposes  ex- 
pedition to,  37;  captured,  40;  ac- 
cusations made  against  Arnold 
at,  90. 

Theason.  Arnold's,  265,  287,  293; 
furore  against  him  on  news  of, 
303. 

TuYON,  Governor,  invasion  of  Con- 
necticut by,  130;  at  Norwalk  and 
Compo,  132. 

TuuMiu:i-L,  Governor,  writes  of 
capture  of  Ticondernga,  42. 


Valcoiu  Island,  Arn<ild  sails  to, 
109;  naval  bat'.le  olf,  112;  Ar- 
nold's  bravey  at,  spoken  of  by 


INDEX. 


443 


(iiiti's,  118,  Varick,  119,  LoEsing, 
117,  Cooper,  118,  Irving,  105, 
Spiirks,  117. 
Vauk'k,  Rioiiaud,  letter  to  Gates 
after  battle  of  Valcour  Island, 
ll'J;  secretary  of  Schuyler,  168; 
a  friend  of  Schuyler  and  Arnold, 
IG!);  his  opinion  of  Gates,  175; 
his  letter,  179;  his  letter  from 
camp  Sept.  25,  1777,  to  Schuyler, 
1 84,  his  ignorance  of  Arnold's 
treason,  300. 

Vattel,  his  definition  of  a  spy, 
324. 

Vkuit.ank's  Point,  Arnold  signals 
the  Vulture  at,  297. 

Vci/ruuE,  The,  a  British  sloop  of 
war,  brings  Andre  and  Robinson 
up  the  Hudson,  287;  takes  Arnold 
on  board,  297;  takes  him  to  New 
York,  302. 

w. 

Waki{p:n,  General  .Toseimi,  his 
friendship  for  Arr.(;M,  38;  letter 
to  authorities  of  Conn,  about 
Arnold,  40,41;  his  children,  aid 
to,  by  Arnold,  216,  217. 

Wakkex,  Joirx  C.  meets  Arnold  at 
Margate,  221. 

WASurxciTON,  Geouoe,  under  the 
Hritish  Hag.  25;  censures  Allen, 
46;  afriiMid  of  Arnold,  47;  selects 
Arnold  tn  couunand  cxpt'dition  to 
(Quebec,  48:  gives  Arnold  his  in- 
structions, 50;  li'tter  to  Schuyler 
ali:iut  Arnold,  04;  his  joy  at  Ar- 
nold's safe  arrival,  letter  to  Schy- 
ler,  70;  concern  on  hearing  of 
Arnold's  being  wounded,  letter  to 


Schuyler,  85;  suggests  to  Gates  to 
appoint  Arnold  to  command  Heet 
on  the  Lakes,  108;    begs   Arnold 
in  letter  not  to  resign  after  he  was 
superseded,  127;    asks  Lee  why 
Arnold     was    superseded,     12X; 
letter  to   Arnold  expressing  sur- 
prise that  he    diil    not    see    his 
(Arnold's)  name  among  the  Ma- 
ior-Generals,  128;  writes  to  Pres- 
ident    of    Congress:     "General 
Arnold.s'    promotion    gives    me 
nmch  pleasure,"  134;  offers  him 
command   of    the   Hudson,   134; 
letter  to  Congress  in   regard  to 
Arnold's  vindication,  134;  letter 
to     Congress     requesting     that 
Arnold   be  sent   north  to    repel 
Hurgoyne,  \'\!<;  rt'peats  this   re- 
quest, 139;  sends  Arnold  to  join 
Schuyler,  147;  letter  to  Schuyler 
in  praise  of   Arnold,    147;   also 
letter   to    Heath,  147;  sends  Ar- 
nold    commission,      giving     his 
proper   rank,  210:    letter  to  Ar- 
nold   in-esenting  epaulettes   iind 
sword-knots,     215;     gives     liim 
command  of   Philadelphia,  222; 
his   trial,    24>^;     letters  to   Reed 
and  Arnold  about  his  trial,  248; 
reprimands  Arnold,  2(51;  anxious 
about  final    succe.s8,   273;    gives 
Arnold  couiniand  of  West  Point, 
2'^4;    visits   the    Fn'uch    otHcers 
at     Hartford— at     West     Point, 
294;    Hamilton     hands    to    him 
the    papers     found    on     Andre, 
29 »;      "  whom     can    we     trust 
now?  ''    299;  refers  Andre's  case 
to  a   board  of  general    officers, 
306;  his  'etter  to  8u-  Henry  Clin- 


444 


INDEX. 


ton,  307  ;  receives  second  letter 
from  Clinton,  308;  might  not 
Washington  have  spared  Andre  ? 
■\21;  approves  of  plan  to  kidnap 
Arnold,  :3;JG;  his  letter  to  Major 
Lee,  337;  Cornwallis  surrenders 
to,  355. 

Wateh.man,  Hannah,  maiden 
name  of  mother  of  Arnold,  17; 
her  genealogy,  18;  her  character, 
20. 

Webb,  Col.,  4"). 

West  Indies,  Arnold  sails  to,  33; 
369;  385;  389. 

West  Point,  military  position. 
2>^i;  Washington  gives  comnumd 
of,  to  Arnold,  284;  the  Robinson 
House,  287. 

Westminstek  Abbey,  Andre's  re- 
mains removed  to — his  monu- 
)uent,  315;  Arnold  at,  365, 

Wilkinson,  Adjutant-general  to 
(Jates,  175;  his  statement  regard- 
ing the  battle  of  19th  September, 
ITo;  wi'ite  his  memoirs  thirty 
jears  after  the  battle,  177. 


Williams,  David,  one  of  the  cap- 
tors of  Andre,  291. 

Williams,  Rooeu,  17. 

Willett,  Mahinus,  Col.,  under 
Gansevoort  at  Fort  Schuyler,  149. 

Wolfe,  death  of,  76. 

WooDUUFF,  Samuel,  200. 

WoosTEU,  Gen.,  wants  Arnold  to 
wait  for  regular  orders,  36;  in 
command  at  Montreal,  83:  in 
connnand  at  Quebec,  88;  refuses 
Brown's  demand  for  court  of  in- 
quiry, 103;  mortally  wounded  at 
Kidgefield,  130. 

WYN'COor,  refuses  to  obey  orders  of 
Arnold,  and  ordered  by  Gates  to 
bo  put  under  arrest,  110;  through 
Arnold's  request,  not  cashiered, 
111. 

Y. 

YonK,  Duke  of,  Arnold  appeals  to, 
for  military  service,  390. 

Yorktown,  Lord  Cornwallis  sur- 
renders at,  358. 


